DETECTIVES from the specialist cybercrime squad have charged two men for allegedly using cryptocurrency to buy child abuse material online after raids on the Central Coast and in the North West.
Police operating under Strike Force Angle, an ongoing investigation into the use of cryptocurrency to access or distribute child abuse online, raided a Woy Woy property at about 6am on July 31.
During the search, police discovered and seized a number of electronic devices, including a mobile phone, a tablet and a portable USB hard drive.
The electronics were forensically triaged at the scene and police allegedly discovered hundreds of child abuse material images and videos across the devices.
A number of bestiality images were also uncovered on the mobile device and a small quantity of cannabis was seized, police allege.
Police arrested a 45-year-old man at the scene and took him to Gosford Police Station, where he was charged with four child abuse-related offences, possessing bestiality material and possessing a prohibited plant.
He was granted conditional release in Bail Court on August 1 to face Wyong Local Court on September 30.
It came after strike force detectives raided properties at Boggabri and Calala.
Police seized a computer and a mobile phone at the scene and allege forensic examination determined they had been used to access child abuse material.
Police will further allege that international law enforcement provided evidence of a 21-year-old man making three cryptocurrency transactions on a child abuse material website.
Strike Force Angle detectives attended Tamworth Police Station at about 9am on Wednesday and arrested the 21-year-old man.
He was charged with three counts of using a carriage service to access child abuse material. He was granted conditional bail to front Tamworth Local Court on September 1.
