NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / World

Australian Border Force seizes large number of lifelike child sex dolls

By Shannon Molloy
news.com.au·
29 Jul, 2020 07:00 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Disturbingly detailed dolls are being ordered into New Zealand

Warning: Distressing

Australian Border Force officers have seized a large number of lifelike child sex dolls favoured by paedophiles, ordered online and sent via the post or through air cargo.

Data obtained by news.com.au shows the purchase of the sinister products by Australians continues, with 31 packages intercepted at in the first six months of 2020 alone, the majority in air cargo.

In the 12 months to June 30, a total of 86 childlike sex dolls were seized by ABF, it can be revealed.

"Child-like sex dolls and other child abuse material are symptomatic of the broader global threat posed by child sexual abuse, that's why the ABF works with its law enforcement and intelligence partners to further investigate these imports," a spokesman for the agency said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Three NSW men were arrested earlier this year over the alleged purchase of childlike sex dolls. These dolls were allegedly found in one home. Photo / Australian Border Force
Three NSW men were arrested earlier this year over the alleged purchase of childlike sex dolls. These dolls were allegedly found in one home. Photo / Australian Border Force

"ABF officers at our air cargo and mail facilities are actively targeting these dolls, which are a prohibited import and are considered child abuse material.

"The ABF has a zero tolerance approach to child abuse material, including childlike sex dolls, and we use all powers available to us to protect Australians from anyone associated with these sickening activities."

Earlier this month, news.com.au revealed that one of the world's largest online marketplaces, Alibaba, contained a number of listings for replica child dolls, including infants and toddlers.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

One of the sellers even provided a sickening video of an anatomically correct baby doll, demonstrating how it could be "used".

Advocacy group Collective Shout conducted an investigation that exposed a number of listings, despite previous commitments from the company to ban the sale of the dolls.

"I've been an activist with Collective Shout for 10 years and this is the most disturbing content I've seen," campaigner Melinda Liszewski said. "It is deeply distressing to view."

The investigation found large numbers of replica child dolls marketed as "young girl", "flat chest" and "sex dolls for men" sold on Alibaba by 18 different suppliers.

Discover more

New Zealand

Paedophile who worked on What Now admits child abuse image charges

27 Jul 11:24 PM
Royals

'I felt broken': Epstein victim, 22, reveals he took her virginity aged 17

25 Jul 12:11 AM
World

Ghislaine Maxwell ambushes prosecutors by asking for gag order on witnesses

27 Jul 08:21 PM
New Zealand

'Morally reprehensible': Cheerleading gym knowingly hired convicted paedophile

28 Jul 05:00 PM

Some of the models were as small as 65cm, which is roughly the height of a 6-month-old baby.

Anatomically correct child sex dolls sold online include infants and toddlers. Photo / Australian Border Force
Anatomically correct child sex dolls sold online include infants and toddlers. Photo / Australian Border Force
The sickening dolls are considered child sex abuse materials in Australia and possessing one is punishable with up to 15 years in jail. Photo / Supplied
The sickening dolls are considered child sex abuse materials in Australia and possessing one is punishable with up to 15 years in jail. Photo / Supplied

The items are far from harmless, the ABF spokesman told news.com.au.

"Recent research by the Australian Institute of Criminology found that the use of these dolls may lead to an escalation in child sex offences – from viewing online child abuse material to contact sexual offending.

"It is also found that there is no evidence that these dolls have a therapeutic benefit in preventing child sexual abuse."

In September 2019, new legislation came into effect that made it an offence to possess a childlike sex doll, punishable with up to 15 years' imprisonment.

"The reforms also amended the definition of 'child abuse material' in the Criminal Code to put beyond doubt that it is an offence to, for example, use a carriage service such as the internet to advertise or solicit, or use a postal service to send, a childlike sex doll," the ABF spokesman said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"An individual caught in possession of child abuse material, including a childlike sex doll, can be charged with importing Tier 2 goods. The maximum penalty [for attempted importation], if convicted, is up to 10 years' imprisonment and/or fines of up to A$525,000."

Border Force officers at international mail centres have seized 86 childlike sex dolls bought by Australians in a 12-month period. Photo / Supplied
Border Force officers at international mail centres have seized 86 childlike sex dolls bought by Australians in a 12-month period. Photo / Supplied

When the listings on Alibaba were revealed, the company took action to remove them and implement a number of "additional measures to prevent the items being relisted", a spokesperson said.

"We maintain a robust product listing policy that prohibits the listing by third-party sellers of any items depicting or suggestive of sex involving minors, and third-party sellers in breach of the policy are subject to our disciplinary measures."

In New Zealand, a Timaru man became the first person in the country to be jailed for importing a child sex doll when he was sentenced to 18 months in 2019.

Stephen Heppleston, 58, pleaded guilty to importing the child sex doll and possessing objectionable publications relating to the sexual exploitation of children.

SEXUAL HARM - DO YOU NEED HELP?

If it's an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone contact Safe to Talk confidentially:

• Call 0800 044 334

• Text 4334

• Email support@safetotalk.nz

• For more info or to web chat visit www.safetotalk.nz

Alternatively contact your local police station -

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

click here for a list.

- Additional reporting, NZ Herald

Save

    Share this article

Latest from World

World

Released protest leader sues Trump Administration for $33m

11 Jul 02:57 AM
World

Bull sharks keep warming to Sydney's waters

11 Jul 02:29 AM
World

In Brazil, Trump faces a country — and a leader — ready for a fight

11 Jul 02:01 AM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from World

Released protest leader sues Trump Administration for $33m

Released protest leader sues Trump Administration for $33m

11 Jul 02:57 AM

The Columbia graduate was held in an immigration centre despite being a legal resident.

Bull sharks keep warming to Sydney's waters

Bull sharks keep warming to Sydney's waters

11 Jul 02:29 AM
In Brazil, Trump faces a country — and a leader — ready for a fight

In Brazil, Trump faces a country — and a leader — ready for a fight

11 Jul 02:01 AM
Top Ukrainian officer killed in Kyiv

Top Ukrainian officer killed in Kyiv

11 Jul 01:00 AM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP