Editor's note: Images and video footage can be downloaded here and here.
A Southern Highlands man has been charged after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers at Sydney International Airport allegedly located child abuse material on the man's phone.
The 29-year-old man was intercepted after he arrived on a flight from the United States of America on Thursday 15 October 2026.
Following an examination of the man's mobile phone, ABF officers allegedly located child abuse material.
The man was arrested and taken to Mascot Police Station where he was charged with the following offences:
- 1 count – Possessing child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to s474.22A Criminal Code Act 1995; and
- 1 count – Import Tier 2 goods, being child abuse material, contrary to s233BAB(5) Customs Act 1901.
The man appeared before Bail Division Court on Friday (16 October 2026), where he was granted bail. He is next scheduled to appear before Downing Centre Local Court on 15 December 2026.
ABF Superintendent Shaun Baker said the detection highlights the work of ABF investigators, who use their specialised skills and expertise to identify and disrupt serious criminal offending before it can cause harm to the Australian community.
“Child abuse material is not a victimless crime. Every image or video represents the abuse and exploitation of a child," Supt Baker said.
“ABF officers are often the first line of defence against this type of criminality, detecting abhorrent material at the border and preventing it from entering the Australian community.
“Those who seek to import, access or distribute child abuse material should be under no illusion: the ABF remains committed to detecting this abhorrent offending."
Note to media
Use of term 'CHILD ABUSE' MATERIAL not ‘CHILD PORNOGRAPHY’
The correct legal term is Child Abuse Material – the move to this wording was among amendments to Commonwealth legislation in 2019 to more accurately reflect the gravity of the crimes and the harm inflicted on victims.
Use of the phrase ‘child pornography’ is inaccurate and benefits child sex abusers because it:
indicates legitimacy and compliance on the part of the victim and therefore legality on the part of the abuser; and
conjures images of children posing in 'provocative' positions, rather than suffering horrific abuse.
Every photograph or video captures an actual situation where a child has been abused.
