A man who downloaded thousands of objectionable images of children has been arrested and charged with importation after a New Zealand Customs Service investigation.

The man, a 52-year-old New Zealand resident, was investigated after information from the Department of Internal Affairs showed that a New Zealand based IP address had been used to access and download material from an overseas based website containing child abuse images. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Search warrants were executed by Customs at two Auckland addresses where several thousand further child abuse images were located on computers and other media.

The investigation involved close liaison with New Zealand Police and Child, Youth and Family.

This is the third arrest in 18 months by New Zealand Customs in relation to the importation of child abuse material.

Customs Comptroller, Martyn Dunne said this is a concerning find but Customs will continue to investigate these types of people and their behaviour.

“Our officers are experienced in looking out for these offenders and although they may think they are conducting this activity in their own home, it is illegal and will not be tolerated.”

“Our communities need to be educated that the online movement and trading of child sexual abuse material is regularly happening throughout all corners of our society. The worrying aspect of this activity is that it is not a victimless crime, it is increasing in volume, numbers of offenders, and seriousness of content”, he said.

Customs, New Zealand Police (OCEANZ), and the Department of Internal Affairs work in a task force capacity to investigate instances of the importation, exportation, possession, and trading of online child sexual abuse material with the ultimate goal of identifying and protecting children from contact offending.

ENDS

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