Koonawarra man charged with uploading child abuse images to social media

Officers from the Australian Federal Police and NSW Police surrounded the Wyndarra Way property about 5am on Thursday, September 18.

Then, they stormed the property.

The bust was part of a statewide child protection blitz called Operation Titan, which targets alleged child abuse offenders.

During the operation late last month, a Moss Vale man was among nine people charged with more than 30 child abuse offences.

In Koonawarra on Thursday, officers detained a 25-year-old man at the Wyndarra Way property and questioned him for hours as forensic officers and a dog unit officer worked the scene.

A resident who lives nearby and did not want to be named heard the commotion from his home.

"We heard all yelling and screaming and banging going on, and when we looked out the window, we seen all the tactical cops with their machine gun looking things, and they had all the place surrounded," he said.

"Someone tried to escape out the back, and they got him and Tasered him, and dragged him around."

The resident then watched as police officers picked up little bags scattered outside the home.

"I just seen them picking up white baggy things off the ground and the driveway," he said.

Late on Thursday afternoon, the 25-year-old man was charged with five child abuse offences, including two counts of possessing/controlling child abuse material obtained/accessed using a carriage service.

One count of using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material, and two counts of using a carriage service to access child abuse.

Click on the photo to see more pictures.

"All offences carry a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment," an AFP spokesman said.

"It's alleged the man uploaded four images containing child abuse material to a social media platform."

The man was refused bail and will appear before Downing Centre Local Court Bail Division on Friday, September 19.

Also in Koonawarra on Thursday, AFP officers arrested a 35-year-old man outside a home after it was found he was in breach of his bail conditions.

"The AFP transferred custody of the man to NSW Police Force," the spokesman said.

Operation Titan was launched by the AFP following an increase in reports of child abuse material to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation.

In the 2024-2025 financial year, the ACCCE received more than 82,700 reports of child exploitation. This is a 41 per cent rise from the previous financial year.

AFP Commander Brett James said creating, possessing and sharing child abuse material was not a victimless crime, and left victims with lifelong trauma.

"Perpetrators are indifferent to the harm they cause victims and are only motivated by their abhorrent desires," he said.

"Our message to online offenders has not changed - if you commit these crimes, you will be found, arrested and prosecuted.

"I am extremely proud of the work of our investigators, as well as our colleagues at NSW Police Force and ABF, who we work together with every day to ultimately protect the most vulnerable people in our communities."

Commander Sex Crimes Squad for NSW Police, Rachel Fawcett, said police investigators worked tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to track offenders who exploited children online and hold them to account.

"Every successful operation and arrest is a step toward a safer digital environment, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to bringing perpetrators to justice and protecting our children," she said.

More crime and court news here.