Detectives from State Crime Command’s Sex Crimes Squad have charged a man after a covert online investigation into child exploitation.
Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) investigation into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices.
Earlier this month, strike force officers began engaging online with a man from the Lithgow area.
Police will allege in court the man believed he was speaking to a 14-year-old girl, made numerous sexually explicit comments to the child and requested to meet the girl for the purpose of sexual activity.
About 5.30pm yesterday, Sex Crimes Squad arrested a 42-year-old man in Penrith.
At the time of his arrest he was allegedly found to be in possession of a prescribed substance.
He was taken to Penrith Police Station, where he was charged with using a carriage service to procure person under 16 years of age for sexual activity and possess prescribed restricted substance.
He has been bail refused and to appear at Penrith Local Court later today.
Regular covert online investigations are conducted by the Child Exploitation Internet Unit and police in NSW work closely with their law-enforcement colleagues interstate and overseas.
Anyone with information about internet predators should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
