THREE people have been arrested and charged after a federal investigation into child abuse material across the Riverina.
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During January 2020, the Australian Federal Police's child protection unit received a number of reports from the US relating to allegations of Australian users uploading child abuse material online.
The AFP launched two separate investigations into the alleged offences, leading to multiple search warrants being executed in the Riverina region on July 1.
A 52-year-old man and a 43-year-old woman were arrested for their alleged involvement in producing and circulating child abuse material online after the AFP searched two vehicles and two properties.
Police seized a number of electronic devices including mobile phones, tablets, laptops, hard drives and a camera, with forensic examination of the devices ongoing.
The man was set to appear at Albury Local Court on July 2, facing charges of one count of solicit material using a carriage service - the material being child abuse material, one count of possess child abuse material obtained or accessed through a carriage service, and one count of possess child abuse material.
The woman was also set to appear at Albury Local Court on July 2 after being charged with three counts of children not to be used for production of child abuse material, one count of possess child abuse material, one count of transmit child abuse material using a carriage service, and one count of sexual act for production of child abuse material - child under 16.
In a separate investigation, a 56-year-old man was arrested in his Riverina-region home on July 1 for allegedly transmitting child abuse material online.
The man was refused bail to reappear at Albury Local Court on July 2, charged with two counts of possess child abuse material, one count of transmit child abuse material using a carriage service, and one count of access child abuse material using a carriage service.
Police do not believe the alleged incidents are linked.
AFP Child Protection Operations Superintendent Paula Hudson said the arrests were indicative of a coordinated, global response to child abuse.
"Child abuse is a horrific and insidious issue, it's happening globally and locally, everywhere from major cities to small rural towns," she said.
"It's amplified by the way abusers share material online, abusing and re-abusing their victims with the click of a button."
Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime stoppers on 1800 333 000.
You can also make a report online by alerting the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation via the Report Abuse button at www.accce.gov.au/report.
