Last year, Australian child exploitation investigators received a crucial tip-off from their American counterparts. This intelligence indicated that someone had been uploading child abuse material on various social media platforms.

The Australian Federal Police swiftly acted on this information and traced the illegal activity back to two individuals in Gladstone, aged 26 and 19. Their investigation led them to a residence in New Auckland, where they conducted a search in November. During this operation, they uncovered several electronic devices belonging to the 26-year-old, including two mobile phones allegedly containing illicit content.

Further scrutiny of the social media accounts linked to the 19-year-old revealed even more concerning findings. Allegedly, he had shared child abuse material with another individual through an online chat service.

As a result of these discoveries, the 26-year-old was charged with accessing and possessing child abuse material using a carriage service. Meanwhile, the 19-year-old faces more extensive charges, including accessing, possessing, and transmitting child abuse material via a carriage service.

The 26-year-old was charged with one count each of accessing child abuse material using a carriage service and possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained using a carriage service.

The 19-year-old man was charged with one count of accessing child abuse material using a carriage service, two counts of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained using a carriage service and two counts of transmitting child abuse material using a carriage service.

These offences carry minimum jail terms of 15 years.

Both men are due to face Gladstone Magistrates Court today.

”Anyone who views child abuse material is committing a crime,” Detective Acting Superintendent Kurt Wesche said.

“Our message to online offenders has not changed – if you procure, access, or transmit child abuse material, you will be found, arrested and prosecuted.

“Children are not commodities to be used for the abhorrent gratification of sexual predators, and we will continue to target those who seek to exploit children.”

If abuse is happening right now, call Triple Zero.