Canberra, Australia – Australian Police have busted a child abuse ring that has victimized at least 46 children after an investigation conducted following a tip from the U.S.
Most of the victims are said to have been from the same childcare home and they age between 16 months to 15 years. Following the discovery 14 men have been arrested and would be charged with more than 800 charges of exploitation, 4 counts of bestality as evidence of abuse to animals have also been found.
One of the offenders was found to be a childcare worker with access to more than 30 children. The 27-year-old man has been charged with more than 300 offences, including having sexual intercourse with a child under 10, indecent assault of a child under 16 and intentionally sexually touching a child under 10. He will face court in Port Macquarie on 21 January.
More than 140 referrals to international police were made during the investigation, including eighteen to the US, which led to three arrests and identified suspects in Europe, Asia, Canada and New Zealand, authorities said.
“These men allegedly produced child abuse material for the depraved pleasure of their peers with absolutely no thought to the lasting effects their actions would have on these children,” said AFP Commander Christopher Woods.
Police began arresting the men in February, with the latest arrest on this Friday. According to the police, each arrest and warrant led to the discovery of more alleged offenders and more children needing to be saved from ongoing abuse.
Australian police have not ruled out the possibility of more arrests. Meanwhile, the US Homeland Security Investigations officer to Australia, Adam Parks, said there were several probes underway in the United States as well.
