In January 2025, Customs intercepted a child-like sex doll that had been declared as a "mannequin model" and imported via sea freight. Customs investigators from the Child Exploitation Operations Team identified the individual responsible and executed a search warrant at his home in February 2025, where they found child sexual abuse material on his devices.
Further forensic analysis identified a total of 347 child sexual abuse material publications, some of which were AI-generated, dating back to July 2015. Investigators also found at least four intimate visual recordings of another person on his devices.
Acting Chief Customs Officer, Child Exploitations and Operations Team, Shaun Martin says the material this man possessed, created, accessed and shared is deeply distressing, and Customs will continue to prioritise investigations into this type of offending.
"This man imported a child-like sex doll, which in our experience, is often linked to other forms of child exploitation offending. This is aligned with findings from international law enforcement agencies and researchers.
"We also found computer generated content. It makes no difference whether this content is AI-generated or created by other means - material of this nature contributes to the exploitation and sexualisation of children.
"Further, this offender was not only accessing and sharing harmful material but had also begun exploiting another individual by secretly filming a sexual encounter. We are pleased we were able to intervene before further harm occurred.”
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.