Police arrest 10 in child exploitation operation

Ten people have been charged following the closure of a three-month operation by Taskforce Argos targeting the trade of child exploitation material via the internet.

Detectives from the State Crime Operations Command Taskforce Argos yesterday closed Operation Hotel Quiet, an operation which commenced in June this year.

During the operation, police executed 16 search warrants (including four yesterday) on addresses in Cairns, Rockhampton, Varsity Lakes, Burpengary and Richlands.

Ten people were charged and included:

A 22-year-old Cairns man charged with one count of use carriage service to access child pornography material.

• A 19-year-old Rockhampton man charged with one count each of possess child exploitation material and use internet to transmit indecent matter to child and two counts of indecent treatment of a child.
• A 19-year-old Rockhampton man charged with one count of possess child exploitation material and one count of use carriage service to access child pornography material.
• A 27-year-old Rockhampton man charged with two counts of possess child exploitation material and one count of use carriage service to access child pornography material.
• A 27-year-old Rockhampton man charged with two counts of possess child exploitation material and one count each of use carriage service to access child pornography material and use carriage service to make available child pornography material.
• A 24-year-old Varsity Lakes man charged with one count each of possess child exploitation material and use carriage service to access child pornography material.
• A 54-year-old Burpengary man charged with one count each of possess child exploitation material and use carriage service to access child pornography material.
• A 19-year-old Greenslopes man charged with one count each of possess child exploitation material and use carriage service to access child pornography material.
• A 23-year-old Burpengary man charged with one count each of possess child exploitation material and use carriage service to access child pornography material.
• A 55-year-old Richlands man charged with one count each of possess child exploitation material and use carriage service to access child pornography material.

Detective Superintendent Peter Crawford of Taskforce Argos said the arrests were a clear indication the Queensland Police Service is targeting those who exploit children.

“We are pleased with the success of the operation and are continuing to work to prosecute those who profit from or take part in the victimisation and exploitation of children,” Detective Superintendent Peter Crawford said

Today, Premier of Queensland Anna Bligh along with Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Neil Roberts and Deputy Commissioner (Specialist Operations) Ian Stewart launched the “Who’s chatting to your kids?” project at parliament house. The project involves a 45-minute DVD and brochure aimed at warning parents of the risks involved with children using the internet.

“The project is an important initiative and one which aims to educate parents of the risks of internet predators and the ways to ensure their children stay safe on the internet,” Detective Superintendent Crawford said.

All 10 people charged as part of Operation Hotel Quiet will appear in court in the coming weeks. Three juveniles were also cautioned as part of the operation.

More information regarding the “Who’s chatting to your kids?” project can be located on the police website at www.police.qld.gov.au.