Police and US law enforcement agencies work together to take down child pornography suspects

17 Dec 2024

Reflecting on the joint operations, SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Amanda van Wyk said: ‘Crime, such as the possession, manufacturing, accessing and distribution of child pornography, knows no borders.’

Joint operations between the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Department of Homeland Security recently led to the arrest of two individuals in Gauteng suspected of possessing child pornography, among other crimes.

Lieutenant-Colonel Amanda van Wyk, spokesperson for the SAPS, told Daily Maverick that preventing, combatting and investigating crimes committed through electronic mediums required collaboration between the local police and international law enforcement agencies.

“The SAPS remains resolute in its efforts to prevent, combat and investigate crimes committed against children,” she said.

The first suspect, a 49-year-old man who allegedly groomed, sexually assaulted and raped his girlfriend’s 15-year-old daughter, was arrested on Thursday, 12 December 2024 in Vanderbijlpark.

According to Van Wyk, information about the suspect was provided via an international tip line, which led the FBI to investigate and identify him as a resident in South Africa.

“The FBI then shared the intelligence with the SAPS. Further investigation led a team that comprised investigators from the national and Gauteng provincial Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations unit to trace and arrest a… suspect on Thursday,” she said.

The second suspect was arrested on Friday, 13 December. The 41-year-old is a former teacher and school principal in Pretoria, charged with exposing children to pornography, and the sexual grooming of boys between the ages of 10 and 12.

“Three victims have been positively identified thus far, and a further six victims have yet to be traced,” said Van Wyk.

Multi-disciplinary team

“In this operation, the multi-disciplinary team comprised members from the national and Gauteng provincial Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations Unit and the Pretoria Central Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security.”

Van Wyk said that officials from the US Department of Homeland Security assisted police with on-scene analysis of the electronic devices found in the suspect’s possession.

“In both matters, the teams seized various electronic devices suspected of containing sexual child abuse images and videos, or commonly known as child pornography,” she said.

The suspects are appearing before the Pretoria Central Magistrate’s Court and Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 17 December. The state is opposing bail in both matters.

Van Wyk noted that the SAPS had worked with various other countries — including the United Kingdom, Belgium and Australia — to investigate cases over the past few years, which had led to multiple arrests. “The SAPS reminds members of the public that it is a criminal offence to possess, access, download, manufacture or share child pornography,” she said. DM

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Multi-disciplinary team