An Auckland man has been jailed over 32 charges relating to child sexual abuse images.
The 33-year-old was sentenced on Monday to four years and four months imprisonment in the Auckland District Court after exporting a "significant" quantity of child exploitation material.
The content, involving both adults and children, was shared to an overseas-based social media platform.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) detected the uploads and alerted Customs to the offending.
Through further enquiries, the man's address was identified and on February 2, 2022, Customs executed a search warrant.
The man was arrested at a Mt Wellington property and three electronic devices were recovered.
Electronic forensic investigators found objectionable material on all devices, some of which had been shared to an online messaging app.
The man was found to be an active member of multiple online groups where members would share publications depicting extreme sexual acts, including many involving animals.
Chief customs officer of the child exploitation operations team Simon Peterson said Customs is "committed to identifying individuals at the earliest opportunity" to stop the offending.
"The fact this material is shared online does not reduce its impact on the victims - it is all abuse, with children re-victimised every time material showing their abuse is viewed and shared, and the demand this offending then creates for new images and new victims," Peterson said.
"Customs and our law enforcement as well as non-profit partners in New Zealand and overseas are watching closely for people who view and share child sexual abuse material. This sentencing is a result of those partnerships and the hard work and determination of the investigators involved."
People with concerns or suspicions about someone involved in producing or sharing child sexual abuse images or videos are urged to contact Customs confidentially on 0800 WE PROTECT (0800 937 768) or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
If you or someone you know of is at risk or being abused, contact the Police immediately.
