A 32-year-old Rotorua man has been jailed for distributing child sexual exploitation material.
In February 2022, New Zealand Customs was notified by an overseas-based social media app about a New Zealander sharing objectionable material on its platform.
Customs investigations confirmed the identity of the man, conducting a search warrant at his Mangakakahi address.
Further videos of child sexual abuse were found to have been shared via social media when digital forensic analysts seized his electronic items for analysis.
Acting chief customs officer Kesta Dennison said that international partnerships are crucial in fighting online child exploitation.
“This man had been using dark web apps to access horrendous videos of child abuse, which he then shared through a messaging app."
Dennison, a member of the child exploitation operations team, said that the sharing of vital intelligence alllowed them to effectively target and arrest the man.
"Customs is pleased he has been held accountable and that we have put a stop to his offending.”
The man was arrested following the electronic analysis, found guilty on all charges following a trial in July this year.
He was sentenced to 3 years and 11 months in jail today at the Rotorua District Court.
SHARE ME