A 44-year-old Sunshine Coast man has been charged with child exploitation and drug offences following an investigation by the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) and Queensland Police Service (QPS).
The man was identified by the CCC during an ongoing investigation that is focused on individuals accessing and distributing child exploitation material online using peer to peer software.
This is the third Queensland man charged with child exploitation offences by the CCC in 2017.
Yesterday afternoon (6 March 2017) CCC detectives executed a search warrant at a commercial property in Kunda Park with the assistance of the QPS Maroochydore District Child Protection Investigation Unit (CPIU).
It will be alleged a quantity of child exploitation material was identified during the search warrant. The CCC has seized USB devices, laptops, digital cameras and desktop computers for further forensic examination.
During the search for child exploitation material, two hydroponic systems and 18 mature cannabis plants were identified by the CCC.
Maroochydore police attended the property and assisted with the drug-related offences.
The man was transported to Maroochydore Watchhouse where he was charged with:
- 1 x s.228D Possessing Child Exploitation Material (Qld Criminal Code 1899);
- 1 x s.474.19(1)(a)(i)&(aa)(b) Use a carriage service to access child pornography material (Commonwealth Criminal Code 1995); and
- 1 x Produce Dangerous Drug exceed Schedule 3 (Drugs Misuse Act 1986);
- 1 x Possess Dangerous Drug (Drugs Misuse Act 1986);
- 1 x Possess Property used in Commission of a Crime (Drugs Misuse Act 1986);
- 1 x Supply Dangerous Drug (Drugs Misuse Act 1986);
- 1 x Possess Utensil Used in Consumption of a Dangerous Drug (Drugs Misuse Act 1986);
- 1 x Possess Property Suspected of having been used in commission of a drug offence (Drugs Misuse Act 1986).
The investigation remains ongoing.
The man appeared in Maroochydore Magistrates Court today. As the matter is now before the court, it is not appropriate to comment further at this time.
The CCC is an independent agency combating major crime and reducing corruption for the benefit of the Queensland community.
ENDS
