Traffic in illicit pornography is increasing so rapidly that the number of cases uncovered by customs officers this year has already exceeded last year's count.
Announcing the arrest in Perth of a 21-year-old man who was allegedly carrying images of child pornography from the Philippines, customs officers said Wednesday there had been two- and three-fold increases in the rates of child porn detections.
"What we've seen is an increase in this sort of material being smuggled in and out this year," Customs National Manager of Investigations Richard Janeczko said.
"Last year we saw about a two- or three-fold increase in our detections and investigations, and this year's numbers have already exceeded last year's."
Customs officers, in company with the WA Police Child Protection Unit, later raided the man's home in Quinns Rocks north of Perth, and he was later charged with one count each of exporting and importing child pornography.
He was allegedly carrying images on a memory card of people under the age of 18 engaged in sexual activity.
Customs officers, in company with the WA Police Child Protection Unit, later raided the man's home in Quinns Rocks north of Perth, and he was later charged with one count each of exporting and importing child pornography.
The man will appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on June 13.
Maximum penalties for offences relating to child pornography are $275,000 and 10 years in jail.
