A Newcastle man has been charged with alleged child abuse offences after arriving back into the country from Thailand.
Australian Border Force (ABF) officers targeted the 62-year-old for a baggage examination when he landed at Sydney Airport on August 12.
During the baggage examination, officers allegedly found child abuse material on the man's mobile phone.
The man was then arrested and charged with intentionally importing prohibited goods without approval under the Customs Act and using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material under the Criminal Code.
The maximum penalties for the charges are 10 years of imprisonment or 2500 penalty units under the Customs Act offence and 15 years' imprisonment for the Criminal Code offence,
He was refused bail and was due to appear before the NSW Bail Division Court on August 13.
Australian Border Force investigations superintendent Shaun Baker said officers use intelligence-led targeting and specialist capabilities to detect criminals coming into Australia.
"The ABF maintains a zero-tolerance approach to the importation, possession and distribution of child abuse material," he said.
"These offences cause significant harm to vulnerable victims and are never victimless."
