Authorities from New Zealand are collaborating with Australian law enforcement agencies in an investigation into a satanic child sex abuse material ring that has alleged connections to New Zealand.
The New South Wales police recently announced that detectives from their Sex Crimes Squad have charged a sixth individual and are referring an additional 145 suspects to international law enforcement agencies as part of an operation known as Strike Force Constantine.
According to police, offenders from New Zealand, USA, Canada, Mexico, Europe, South America, and South East Asia have been identified in the investigation.
When approached for information on the New Zealand-based suspects and their numbers, New South Wales police directed inquiries to the New Zealand police.
When asked about New Zealand’s involvement in the investigation and cooperation with overseas authorities, Detective Inspector Stuart Mills stated that New Zealand Police are collaborating with the New South Wales Police and will provide support as needed.
“We are not able to provide further comments at this time,” Mills added.
Strike Force Constantine was initiated by the State Crime Command’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit to probe the online distribution of child sexual abuse material with ritualistic or satanic themes, as per the announcement made by New South Wales police last week.
“During the course of the investigation, detectives uncovered a Sydney-based paedophile network actively engaged in possessing, distributing, and facilitating this material through an internationally administered website,” the statement read.
