Milan, 25 June (LaPresse) – A 30-year-old man has been arrested and seven minors have been searched as part of an investigation by the Matera Financial Police into the distribution of child pornography, sexual offences and drug dealing, which is alleged to have involved at least three very young victims under the age of 14. Officers from the Economic and Financial Police Unit, coordinated by the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Potenza and the Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office, executed a pre-trial detention order, as well as two further orders requiring house arrest and regular reporting to the police, against two other 20-year-olds, all from Matera, as ordered by the investigating magistrate, and seven search warrants for persons and premises issued by the public prosecutor for minors. The investigation uncovered a network involved in the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material, the supply of cannabis to pre-teens and sexual abuse in exchange for money. In particular, analysis of the suspects’ smartphones and the testimonies of numerous minors interviewed suggest that 10 individuals, three of whom were very young at the time of the offences, were publicising and sending child sexual abuse material via WhatsApp groups. In one case, sexual acts in exchange for money involving three boys under the age of 14 were visible.
Child pornography: abuse in exchange for drugs; 30-year-old arrested in Matera; seven minors searched
Milan, 25 June (LaPresse) – A 30-year-old man has been arrested and seven minors have been searched as part of an investigation by the Matera Financial Police into the distribution of child pornography, sexual offences and drug dealing, which is alleged to have involved at least three very young victims under the age of 14. Officers from the Economic and Financial Police Unit, coordinated by the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Potenza and the Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office, executed a pre-trial detention order, as well as two further orders requiring house arrest and regular reporting to the police, against two other 20-year-olds, all from Matera, as ordered by the investigating magistrate, and seven search warrants for persons and premises issued by the public prosecutor for minors. The investigation uncovered a network involved in the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material, the supply of cannabis to pre-teens and sexual abuse in exchange for money. In particular, analysis of the suspects’ smartphones and the testimonies of numerous minors interviewed suggest that 10 individuals, three of whom were very young at the time of the offences, were publicising and sending child sexual abuse material via WhatsApp groups. In one case, sexual acts in exchange for money involving three boys under the age of 14 were visible.
