Media Release
WA man charged for possessing child abuse material
This is a joint release between Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force
A Western Australia man has appeared in Perth Magistrates Court today (18 February, 2026) charged with allegedly possessing videos and images depicting child abuse material.
Australian Border Force (ABF) officers intercepted the man, 21, following his arrival into Perth on an international flight from Singapore yesterday (17 February, 2026).
During an examination of the man’s mobile phone, ABF officers allegedly detected child abuse material and reported the matter to the AFP for further investigation.
AFP members attended the airport and upon further examination of the device, identified alleged child abuse material and sexualised conversations with and about minors.
AFP investigators executed a search warrant at a home in Tapping today (18 February, 2026) where further electronic devices were seized for forensic examination.
The man was charged by the AFP today (18 February, 2026) with one count of possessing child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth).
The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years' imprisonment.
AFP Acting Inspector Fleur Jennings said the AFP remained committed to working with its law enforcement partners to combat the exploitation and abuse of children.
"The common goal of law enforcement agencies is to ensure anyone who attempts to harm children is identified, located and prosecuted," a/Insp Jennings said.
“The investigators involved in these cases are committed and relentless in their pursuit of the alleged criminals who prey on our children for their own sexual gratification.”
ABF Inspector John Sweet said child abuse material that normalises child exploitation is far from a victimless crime – every photo, video or message represents real harm to real children.
“All child abuse material is abhorrent, and ABF officers detect and identify this depraved content at the border all too often," Insp Sweet said.
“The ABF has a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse material and will continue to use all available methods to target anyone attempting to bring it into the Australian community.”
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) is driving a collaborative national approach to combatting child abuse.
The ACCCE brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into online child sexual exploitation and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.
Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse are urged to contact the ACCCE. If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.
If you or someone you know is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available.
Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at the ThinkUKnow website, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
For more information on the role of the ACCCE, what is online child sexual exploitation and how to report it visit the ACCCE website.
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.
