A WEIPA man has been charged with multiple child sex offences as part of Uniform Kalahari by detectives from the Far North Child Protection and Investigation Unit (CPIU).
Uniform Kalahari commenced in June this year targeting the production and distribution of child exploitation material and illicit drugs.
On 27 September, detectives from the Weipa Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) executed a search warrant and seized various electronic devices.
A 46-year-old Weipa man was taken into custody and charged with two counts of rape, five counts of procuring a young person, one count of grooming a child, ten counts of supply dangerous drugs to a minor, and two counts each of indecent treatment of a child under 16, and unlawful carnal knowledge of a child under 16.
The man appeared in the Weipa Magistrates Court on 28 September and was granted bail with conditions to reside in Cairns.
Since that time, the electronic devices seized were forensically examined and it will be alleged further offences have been identified.
On Thursday, 26 October, CPIU detectives executed a search warrant at a Mount Sheridan home and further charged the man with five counts of supply dangerous drugs to a minor under 16 years, ten counts of use carriage service to access child abuse material and one count of possess child abuse material.
He is due to appear at Cairns Magistrates Court on November 24.
CPIU detectives established Operation Uniform Kalahari in January 2022 to investigate the alleged grooming and exploitation of vulnerable young people in the Cairns area.
It will be alleged the youths were groomed, indecently assaulted and supplied with dangerous drugs including methylamphetamine.
To date, detectives have charged 11 men and two women with a total of 301 offences as part of Operation Uniform Kalahari with 54 child victims also coming forward.
Police and other support services are committed to providing assistance to young people involved and their families.
Anyone with information or who believes they or someone they know may have been impacted, are urged to come forward as investigations remain ongoing.
Officer in Charge of the Cairns District CPIU Detective Senior Sergeant Michael Gooiker says protecting vulnerable young people is the top priority for the Queensland Police Service (QPS).
“We continue to investigate all reports of offences against children, arrest and charge alleged offenders within the full force of the law,” he said.
“These children have shown immense bravery, to speak up and report to police, which ultimately allows us to track down offenders and prosecute them.”
Keep up with the latest news in Cairns and the Far North, and check out some of our top stories this week: Accessible travel blogger up for award and Polo shirt design competition.
