Properties in 11 counties raided for child abuse material
THE homes and businesses of 23 adults who use the ‘Dark Web’ to share and obtain child abuse videos have been targeted in Garda raids.
It is understood that many of the men whose homes were targeted are fathers of young children.
Counties where searches took place were Dublin (6 searches), Monaghan (2), Cork (6), and Donegal (2).
One property was searched in each of counties Clare, Carlow, Cavan, Meath, Louth, Limerick and Kerry.
Digital material was seized for forensic examination at all addresses searched, gardaí confirmed. These comprised of desktops, laptops, USB keys and mobile phones, it is understood.
The Online Child Exploitation Unit at the Garda National Protection Services Bureau carried out the searches in the past few days.
The latest phase took place since last Friday, and involved searches under warrants issued under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998.
Operation Ketch 5, as the operation is known, is the latest phase of an ongoing search and recovery operation targeting suspects involved in the possession and distribution of sexual child exploitation material either through social networks or file sharing. Senior sources say those targeted are suspected of predominantly using the Dark Web to share the sexual abuse material. These individuals are at the ‘higher end of the scale’ and ‘go to great lengths to try and conceal their illegal activity. Often they have paid hundreds or thousands of euro to purchase these horrendous images and videos,’ said a source.
The Dark Web is a download system through which the user cannot be identified or located and is often used by paedophiles, drug dealer, arms dealers or others trying to hide from authorities – but the ability of police forces to find them is improving every year.
Gardaí are liaising with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, regarding any child protection concerns that arise.
Follow-up searches are expected to be carried out in the next few days, the gardaí said in a statement.
A Garda spokesman said: ‘The Online Child Exploitation Unit at the Garda National Protection Services Bureau is leading out the operation.
‘This phase of the operation took place between February 1 and 4, 2019, and involved searches under warrant issued pursuant to the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 in a number of Garda divisions throughout the country.’
The Garda statement continued that one of the objectives of this operation is to identify child protection concerns at each address and engage with Tusla.
A second objective was to target persons suspected of possessing, importing and distributing child sex abuse images. The timing of the operation is to coincide with Safer Internet Day 2019. An Garda Síochána will, in conjunction with internet safety group Webwise, be promoting the ‘Be in Ctrl’ schools programme, which aims to inform students of the risk of online exploitation, raise awareness regarding safe online behaviour, and empower young people to seek help and report incidents.
The Online Child Exploitation Unit offered a series of advice to web users, and in particular to juveniles.
These include checking and maximising your privacy settings.
They also warn users to be aware that people online may not be who they claim to be and that they never share explicit or intimate images with anyone.
Any person who believes they or someone they know may have been exploited is advised to contact the Garda Child Sexual Abuse Reporting Line at 1800 555 222.
Many believed to be fathers
Gardaí engaging with Tusla