Police swooped on addresses in Remuera and Mangere this morning and arrested a 46-year-old Auckland motel and property manager believed to be involved in the child sex tourism industry.
The arrest follows an eight month investigation into the man’s activities by Police and Customs. He will face charges including organising and promoting child sex tours to South East Asia, and dealing in children for sexual exploitation.
An undercover Police officer was used to gather evidence during the operation.
Members of the Counties Manukau Child Protection Team are searching the man's address today.
The operation was co-ordinated by the Police Online Child Exploitation Across New Zealand (OCEANZ) unit, a specialist team set up in 2009 and proactively working to save children as part of a global taskforce focused on online child sexual exploitation.
“The unit is working closely with other agencies and international partners to identify and track offenders involved in the online sexual exploitation of children in New Zealand and overseas. New Zealander’s who think they can travel abroad to commit these horrendous offences against children can expect to be targeted and arrested.” said OCEANZ head Detective Senior Sergeant John-Paul Michael.
The man was arrested shortly before he was due to leave the country for Thailand.
It is the first time a charge of organising a child sex tour has been laid against an individual in New Zealand.
He will be appearing in the Manukau District Court today.
ENDS
Contact:
PNHQ media team
04 474 9482 or 04 474 9476