THREE people were arrested for the possession and distribution of child pornography in the Waterfall, Pinetown and Bluff areas yesterday.
The trio were arrested in a joint operation by members of the SAPS Head Office in Gauteng, the KwaZulu-Natal Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Units and the Pretoria based members of the US Homeland Security.
The accused are aged between 29 and 47 and the arrests were made after an intensive investigation by members of the Durban FCS Serial and Electronic Crime Investigation Unit (SECI). They were found in possession of pornographic material and illegal ammunition.
The police investigation revealed that the group were allegedly involved in sharing, downloading and distributing child pornography. One of the victims is a six-year-old child, whose images were discovered by the police on the cellphone belonging to the Bluff resident. The police investigation also revealed that the victim also resides in the Bluff.
The success of this operation is attributed to the partnership between SAPS and the US Homeland Security. The police investigation is ongoing and will determine whether there are others linked to this crime.
The three accused were charged with access, possession and the distribution of child pornography, sexual assault and the possession of illegal ammunition. They were detained at the Brighton Beach, Hillcrest and Pinetown police stations.
