Seven children in Australia and the Philippines have been rescued after a Queensland man was arrested and charged with 28 child exploitation and drug offences by police.
Police raided the 31-year-old’s home at Moreton Bay, north of Brisbane, last December and arrested him after detectives from Redcliffe Child Protection Investigation Unit (CPIU) received a tip-off.
Officers also seized several devices.
He was initially charged with possessing child exploitation material and using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence.
Later he was charged with a further 24 offences, including supplying dangerous drugs, using the internet to procure children, facilitating the procurement of a child for a sexual act and indecent treatment of a child under 12 with mental impairment.
Since his arrest, seven child victims – two in south-east Queensland and five in the Philippines – have been rescued.
Queensland police Detective-Inspector Phil Hurst said the man’s arrest was the culmination of a lengthy and complex investigation.
“I thank the CPIU detectives for their tenacity in going to lengths to ensure the victims were identified and, in some cases, rescued from harm,” he said.
“This shows that we will investigate all reports of harm against children both locally and even if it leads us overseas.”
The man has been remanded in custody and is due to reappear in court on Thursday.
