A 27-year-old Malaysian was arrested at the Melbourne International Airport for allegedly carrying hundreds of child porn images and videos into Australia.
The man arrived at the Melbourne International Airport on a flight from Kuala Lumpur on March 22.
Australian Border Force (ABF) said officers searched the man’s belongings and allegedly found more than 900 images and videos depicting child exploitation material on the man’s laptop and mobile phone.
“Children are harmed by those who manufacture this abhorrent material; and people who consume child exploitation material provide the market that fuels this vile trade.
“Through the use of intelligence and targeting techniques our trained officers actively look for people bringing child exploitation material into Australia,” ABF Commander Investigations Mark Antill was quoted as saying.
The man was charged with Importing Tier 2 goods, namely Child Exploitation Material, contrary to Section 233BAB(5) of the Customs Act 1901.
The maximum penalty for an individual importing or exporting child exploitation material is $180,000 (RM543,470), 10 years imprisonment, or both.
The man was brought to the Melbourne Magistrates Court on March 23, where he was remanded until June 29.