A police inquiry originating in Italy has led to the arrest of a Te Awamutu couple on child abuse, internet child exploitation, firearms and drugs-related charges.
Waikato police crime manager Detective Inspector Chris Page said the arrest of the 37-year-old man and his 32-year-old female partner, his subsequent appearance in
the Hamilton District Court today and the woman appearing in court in Christchurch late last month, were part of an inquiry that spanned several months.
"A case arose from an investigation by Italian authorities last year into the use of the internet for obtaining and distributing material related to child exploitation.
"As a result of their inquiries, the Italians provided a number of images, including one that appeared to be of a New Zealand child with a male. This led to the launching of a multi-agency inquiry that resulted in a Te Awamutu man being recognised by a Cambridge detective and the file being referred to Te Awamutu CIB.''
Mr Page said during the course of an extensive investigation material relating to the possession and distribution of objectionable material related to the exploitation young boys was identified.
