Australian Border Force (ABF) investigators have arrested a 43-year-old NSW man after parts of 11 child-like sex dolls were detected in air cargo shipments.
Investigations began after the ABF officers detected and seized the parts in three separate consignments at air cargo facilities in Sydney on 19 September and 16 October 2020. On Tuesday, Border Force members and NSW Police Force detectives searched an address in the outer Sydney suburb of Padstow.
During the search, officers located and seized an electronic device allegedly containing child abuse images and a further child-like sex doll. A number of additional electronic devices were seized for full forensic examination.
Investigators also located a number of cannabis plants, a quantity of marijuana and publications containing child abuse material.
The man was arrested and charged with three counts of Importing Tier 2 goods, contrary to the Customs Act.
Bankstown detectives also charged the man with cultivating prohibited plants and possessing a prohibited drug.
Importing child-like sex dolls is an offence under the Customs Act. The maximum penalty if convicted is up to 10 years’ imprisonment and/or fines of up to $525,000. Under the Criminal Code the possession of a child-like sex doll attracts a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment.
Border Force Superintendent for Regional Investigations in NSW, Garry Low, said the ABF had a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse material and would use all available powers to protect the community from people associated with these abhorrent activities.
“Child sexual abuse is a global issue and the ABF actively engages with its law enforcement partners both domestically and internationally, to further investigate and prevent harm to children in Australia and overseas,” Low said.
At the beginning of October, the ABF arrested a 27 year-old Canberra man for allegedly importing a child-like sex doll into Australia.
According to a statement released by the ABF, on 11 September officers at the Sydney Gateway Facility intercepted a suspicious parcel which arrived from China.
The consignment was described as containing a display shelf, but when it was opened it was found to contain a silicon child-like sex doll and items of children’s clothing.