The man will appear before court in April. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Cybercrime Squad detectives have charged a man following an investigation into alleged offenders using cryptocurrency to buy child abuse and bestiality material.
At about 10 am on Tuesday (24 February), strike force detectives executed a search warrant in Mount Austin and arrested a 39-year-old man.
During the search, detectives seized three computers, mobile phones, hard drives and other storage devices allegedly containing more than 1000 files of child abuse photos, videos and bestiality material.
The 39-year-old man was taken to Wagga Wagga Police Station where he was charged with four counts of possessing child abuse material, possessing bestiality material and producing child abuse material.
He was refused bail and appeared at Bail Division Local Court 5, where he was formally refused bail to appear at Wagga Wagga Local Court on 22 April.
Detectives will allege in court the 39-year-old man purchased the material from the Darknet using cryptocurrency.
Commander of the Cybercrime Squad, Detective Acting Superintendent Jason Smith, said people who relied on the Darknet or encryption to avoid detection were not safe.
“It does not provide the anonymity they expect. Our investigators have the capability, the willingness and tenacity to unmask these offenders and bring them to justice”, Det A/Supt Smith said.
“There is no online environment – hidden or otherwise – where individuals accessing or exchanging child abuse material are safe from law enforcement. We remain committed to protecting children and holding offenders accountable.
“Those who choose to engage in this type of offending should be aware that our teams work tirelessly to uncover it. We will continue to pursue individuals involved in the exploitation of children, wherever they operate online.”
The arrest was made as part of Strike Force Angle, an ongoing investigation by State Crime Command’s Cybercrime Squad to investigate the scope and means by which offenders are using cryptocurrency to disseminate, purchase and produce child abuse material online.
Inquiries are continuing.
Anyone with information that may assist investigations into the distribution of child abuse material is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or Crime Stoppers. Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
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