Dozens arrested as Australia child abuse network busted

Cracking an international cloud-based platform, used to access and share child abuse material, has led police to bust an Australian network with 700 alleged offenders. 

Details of the exploitation ring have been revealed after the arrest and charging of a 37-year-old man southwest of Sydney on Thursday for child abuse offences.

That brought to 62 the total number of arrests since 2023, with detectives laying 400 charges and safeguarding 20 child victims during the operation.

Detective Acting Superintendent Adam Powderly said it was the highest number of arrests ever made under a single investigation.

"(The) final arrest closes one of the biggest CEIU (Child Exploitation Internet Unit) strike forces to date and has made a significant dent in the number of paedophiles operating in NSW, disrupting a key part of Australia's online child abuse network," he said.

"Every image shared, every file accessed, represents a real child who has been harmed."

The investigation began after police uncovered an Australian network of more than 700 alleged offenders using an international cloud-based platform to access and share material.

The man arrested on Thursday was charged with 21 offences, including 13 counts of using a carriage service to make available child abuse material.

He was refused bail and was due to appear in court on Friday.