A man aged 41 from South Australia has appeared in court on charges linked to online exploitation after a coordinated operation involving state and federal police. He faced Mount Gambier Magistrates Court on two counts: possessing material connected to child exploitation and using a carriage service to transmit indecent content to a person under 16. The matter was adjourned to January 13, and the defendant remains on bail.

The inquiry began when authorities within the South Australia Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team received reports in August about illicit material being uploaded online. Investigators from the federal and state forces joined the probe, culminating in the man’s arrest at a Mount Gambier shopping centre and a subsequent search of his residence on September 1.

During the search, officers recovered a mobile device they say contained explicit exchanges with young individuals and additional material linked to child exploitation.

A senior officer overseeing the investigation emphasized that such crimes have victims and stressed the commitment of law enforcement to protecting children. The message to offenders was clear: if you engage in these activities, you will be traced, charged, and prosecuted across jurisdictions.

The operation showcased cross‑jurisdictional collaboration among local, state, and national agencies, united in the effort to dismantle networks involved in online child abuse and exploitation.