A 42-year-old man from Chisholm has been charged with two counts of possessing child abuse material following an investigation involving the Australian Border Force (ABF) and ACT Policing.

According to an official ACT Policing statement published on Friday, 16 October 2026, the investigation began after the man returned to Australia from an overseas trip in May 2026. He arrived on an international flight into Sydney, where Australian Border Force officers selected him for an examination of his electronic devices.

During that examination, officers allegedly identified child exploitation imagery and inappropriate conversations on a messaging application. Investigators also identified financial transfers to a teenager in Europe. The matter was subsequently referred to ACT Policing for further investigation.

Following inquiries over the ensuing months, police executed a search warrant at the man's home in Chisholm on Thursday, 15 October 2026. During the search, investigators examined a USB storage device connected to a computer and allegedly located additional child abuse material.

The man was subsequently charged with two counts of possessing child abuse material. He was expected to appear before the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday, 16 October. At the time of the police announcement, investigators were continuing to analyse electronic devices seized during the investigation. Police indicated that further charges could be considered depending on the results of that analysis. No additional charges should be assumed unless formally announced by authorities.

The case demonstrates how border examinations and digital forensic investigations can contribute to the investigation of suspected online exploitation offences. Electronic devices may contain material relevant to an investigation, and specialist analysis can help investigators establish what information is stored, when it was accessed and whether further offences may have occurred.

The involvement of Australian Border Force and ACT Policing also illustrates how agencies may refer matters to one another when an initial examination identifies evidence requiring a broader criminal investigation. The allegations remain before the justice system. Being charged does not establish guilt, and the accused is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless the allegations are proven in court.

Authorities have asked anyone with relevant information about the accessing or creation of child abuse material to contact Crime Stoppers through the ACT service. Members of the public should report suspected criminal activity through official channels rather than sharing potentially illegal material.