A global online paedophile ring involving four New Zealanders is only the "tip of the iceberg", according to an anti-child abuse advocate.
Four New Zealand men have been arrested as part of Operation Hyper, a collaboration between Police, Internal Affairs and Customs.
Anti-child abuse group ECPAT welcomes the bust but warns there is still an "unhealthy" demand for child sex abuse images in New Zealand. No kidding, and just about everywhere else.
"It's the tip of the iceberg," says ECPAT director Alan Bell.
"Like anything else this is a simple formula of supply and demand and we'd have to say the demand in New Zealand is very unhealthy."
Operation Hyper began last June following a tip-off from Australian authorities over a central Auckland man believed to be involved in the network.
A raid on the man's house revealed objectionable material on his cellphones and laptop, and also uncovered information about three other Kiwi men.
The man has pleaded guilty to the possession of objectionable material and will be sentenced in March.
A Levin man, Gary Ronald Barnes, 53, has already been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail for the possession and distribution of objectionable material.
Another two men accused of being in the ring have yet to be formally charged.
Police say the ring had been sharing explicit videos and images of the abuse of children as young as 4-years-old.
Many of the victims are from South East Asia and Eastern Europe. Investigators were relieved to discover none of those discovered during the operation were local.
However, three young girls were found in the homes of two of the four New Zealand men arrested. Police and Child, Youth and Family are confident the children were not abused and say they will monitor their well-being.
Lord, we pray for ECPAT, that you would guide them in their work and provide for their needs.
Four New Zealand men have been arrested as part of Operation Hyper, a collaboration between Police, Internal Affairs and Customs.
Anti-child abuse group ECPAT welcomes the bust but warns there is still an "unhealthy" demand for child sex abuse images in New Zealand. No kidding, and just about everywhere else.
"It's the tip of the iceberg," says ECPAT director Alan Bell.
"Like anything else this is a simple formula of supply and demand and we'd have to say the demand in New Zealand is very unhealthy."
Operation Hyper began last June following a tip-off from Australian authorities over a central Auckland man believed to be involved in the network.
A raid on the man's house revealed objectionable material on his cellphones and laptop, and also uncovered information about three other Kiwi men.
The man has pleaded guilty to the possession of objectionable material and will be sentenced in March.
A Levin man, Gary Ronald Barnes, 53, has already been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail for the possession and distribution of objectionable material.
Another two men accused of being in the ring have yet to be formally charged.
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| Levin, NZ |
Many of the victims are from South East Asia and Eastern Europe. Investigators were relieved to discover none of those discovered during the operation were local.
However, three young girls were found in the homes of two of the four New Zealand men arrested. Police and Child, Youth and Family are confident the children were not abused and say they will monitor their well-being.
Lord, we pray for ECPAT, that you would guide them in their work and provide for their needs.
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