Largest ever seizure of child abuse material in NSW

Friday, 8 May 2026 17:28

Since 2023, detectives arrested 61 men and one woman and charged them with more than 400 offences.

NSW Police have seized the largest ever amount of child abuse material in a statewide crackdown, arresting more than 60 people and laying 400 charges.

Detectives revealed that the investigation started in 2023 following the discovery of an Australian network with more than 700 alleged offenders using an international cloud-based platform to view and share child abuse material.

NSW Police say it was their largest ever seizure of child abuse material.

Investigations alongside the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation found that 62 of the alleged offenders lived in NSW.

Detectives revealed the investigation began after police uncovered an Australian network of more than 700 alleged offenders sharing child abuse material.

Since the start of the operation in 2023, detectives arrested all 62 people who were identified, including 61 men and one woman, laying more than 400 charges and safeguarding 20 child victims who were identified, police said.

The three-year investigation wrapped up about 5am yesterday with the arrest of a man in Corrimal.

The 37-year-old was taken to Wollongong Police Station following the alleged discovery of large amounts of child abuse material on multiple devices.

He was charged with 21 offences relating to the possession of the material.

Since 2023, detectives have arrested all 62 identified, including 61 men and one woman, laid nearly 400 charges, and identified and safeguarded 20 child victims.

The 37-year-old was refused bail and appeared in court today.

Commander of State Crime Command's Sex Crimes Squad Adam Powderly said the operation was one of the largest arrests totals ever made under a single investigation by the state's sex crimes squad.

"Every image shared, every file accessed, represents a real child who has been harmed," he said.

"Today's final arrest closes one of the biggest CEIU strike forces to date and has made a significant dent in the number of paedophiles operating in NSW, disrupting a key part of Australia's online child abuse network."

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