Man jailed after record airport seizure of objectionable material
12.00pm 17 December 2025
A 35-year-old Auckland man was sentenced in the Auckland District Court yesterday (16 December 2025) for importing material relating to child sexual abuse and bestiality. He received a sentence of three years and nine-and-a-half months’ imprisonment
He arrived at Auckland International Airport on 31 May 2025 after spending more than a month overseas. During a search, Customs officers found several electronic devices and multiple electronic storage devices in his possession.
When questioned about the child sexual exploitation material found on his mobile phone, he admitted downloading it. He was arrested by Customs officers for importing objectionable publications.
A total of 21,482 objectionable images and video files were located across six devices. Over 15,000 of these were child sexual exploitation material and about 40 per cent of those fell into the most extreme categories of child sexual abuse involving children and infants. This is one of the largest importations of objectionable publications ever seized at Auckland International Airport.
Chief Customs Officer, Child Exploitation Operations Team, Simon Peterson, says this arrest demonstrates the critical role of intelligence-led border security, strong partnerships, and highly skilled officers.
“Through advanced intelligence and close collaboration with our partners, Customs identified this individual as a person of interest in 2024. The moment he re-entered New Zealand in May, Customs officers interviewed and arrested him on site at the border.
“This operation resulted in one of the largest intercepts of objectionable publications at the air border. The material he carried was deeply disturbing and included some of the most extreme child sexual abuse content known to law enforcement worldwide.
“Offending of this nature is never victimless. These are not simply illicit images or videos—they document real children being horrifically abused. Every time this material circulates, it perpetuates harm and trauma for those victims.”
If you have concerns or suspicions about someone who may be trading in or producing child sexual abuse images or videos, contact Customs confidentially on 0800 WE PROTECT (0800 937 768) or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
If you are, or know of, someone who is at risk or being abused, contact the Police immediately.