Two men in New South Wales (NSW) are facing serious charges for allegedly purchasing child abuse material online with cryptocurrency as part of an ongoing investigation by NSW Police’s Strike Force Angle.
The first suspect, a 45-year-old man, was taken into custody last Thursday during a police operation at his home in Woy Woy, located on the Central Coast. Authorities seized a range of electronic devices, including a mobile phone and a tablet, which contained numerous images and videos of child abuse materials. Additionally, police found bestiality images and a small amount of cannabis at the property. The man has been charged with offences related to child abuse and drug possession and has been granted bail, with a scheduled court appearance in the coming month.
In another development, a 21-year-old man was arrested in Tamworth, in north-east NSW, as part of the same investigation. His arrest followed previous police raids in May at two properties in Bogabri and Calala, where further electronic devices, including a personal computer, were identified and seized. A forensic analysis revealed that this individual had been accessing child abuse material online. It is alleged that international law enforcement provided evidence linking him to three cryptocurrency transactions made on a website offering such illicit material. He faces similar charges for accessing child abuse material and has also been granted bail, with a court date set for next month.
These arrests highlight the NSW Police’s commitment to combating child exploitation and their ability to adapt to the evolving nature of online crime, particularly the use of cryptocurrency in these nefarious activities.