A Malaysian man was detained for questioning and later deported after alleged child abuse material was found on his mobile phone during an operation by the Australian Border Force (ABF).
The 26-year-old was among 17 travellers intercepted by ABF officers during enforcement operations conducted in the first two weeks of the year. He had arrived in Sydney when he was selected for a routine examination of his electronic device.
According to an ABF statement, officers discovered more than 100 images allegedly depicting child abuse, including anime-style and AI-generated material. As a result, his visa was immediately cancelled, and he was detained for questioning before being deported to Malaysia.
The action was part of a nationwide crackdown carried out by ABF officers between Jan 1 and 14 across New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland.
The operation involved Australians and foreign nationals found in possession of electronic devices containing alleged child exploitation material.
ABF Commander David Coyles said the agency maintains a zero-tolerance approach towards child exploitation.
“We will use all available powers to cancel visas, penalise and prosecute anyone who attempts to exploit vulnerable children in Australia,” he said.
He added that the ABF works closely with international law enforcement partners to ensure such offences are thoroughly investigated and offenders are brought to justice.
