Arrest in child porn probe

A GREEK national living in Cairns is set to face court later this month after being charged with serious child pornography offences.

The 34-year-old, who is understood to be a hospitality worker, was arrested last week by the Cairns-based Joint Agency Child Exploitation Team – a specialised unit that has been operating in the city for more than a year.

The man has been charged with five offences, including two counts of possessing child exploitation material and one count each of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material, transmitted to himlocated self child abuse material by using a carriage service, and possession of drug utensils.

He is due to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on July 23.

It is understood that the man has been living in Cairns on a work visa for a significant period of time.

The material allegedly in the man’s possession is understood to be particularly disturbing.

He is the most recent arrest for the JACET team, which involves officers from both the Cairns Child Protection and Investigation Unit and the Australian Federal Police.

The unit, which became the first of its kind outside a capital city when it launched in June last year, recently announced figures showing it had charged 23 people with a total of 148 offences in less than a year.

It currently involves three dedicated officers, with the support of both agencies, although the AFP Commander Hilda Sirec said in May they would consider expanding it.

IT IS THE MOST RECENT ARREST FOR THE CAIRNS-BASED JOINT AGENCY CHILD EXPLOITATION TEAM, WHICH INVOLVES LOCAL OFFICERS AND THE FEDERAL POLICE