Police arrest 184 in worldwide pedophile ring: Europol

[hutch]

Police arrest 184 in worldwide pedophile ring: Europol

UPDATE 8.15am: THIRTY-one Australians are among 184 people arrested after worldwide raids on an alleged online pedophile ring.

Europol said overnight police in several countries have arrested 184 alleged members of the pedophile ring and rescued 230 children since the operation began in 2007.

"Six-hundred-and-seventy suspects have been identified, 184 arrests have already been made and 230 children, the victims of these terrible crimes, have been identified and rescued from further harm,'' the policing agency's director, Rob Wainwright, said during a press conference in The Hague.

"We expect these numbers to rise further,'' he said, adding: "This is already the biggest case of its kind we have

ever seen."

Dubbed Operation Rescue, Europol said the probe started three years ago, and targeted an online network, its server based in The Netherlands, with almost 70,000 members worldwide at its height. It has since been taken down.

The suspects were members of an online forum, boylover.net, that promoted sex between adults and young boys.

Europol said the website operated as a forum where members connected without committing an offence. Having made contact on the site, they would then use other channels, such as email, to exchange images and films of children being abused.

"I can confirm that this is one of the most successful police operations in recent years in what is probably the largest online paedophile network in the world,'' Wainwright said.

In the course of the investigation, the agency sent more than 4000 intelligence reports to police authorities in more than 30 countries.

Fifteen Victorians are among the Australians arrested by Australian Federal Police officers since investigations began in 2007.

The AFP started investigating in August 2007 and discovered several of the internet addresses came from Australian internet service providers.

AFP high tech crime operations investigation manager Grant Edwards said four children had been removed from harmful situations and arrested 31 suspected offenders.

"The Australian suspects in this operation are aged between 19 years and 84 years, including four suspects we will allege were senior members of this syndicate,'' Commander Edwards said.

"These suspects are from all walks of life, from scout leaders, to lifesavers and teachers."

Two of the Victorians arrested since the operation began, George Iliakis and Philip Alan Reid, have already been jailed.

Brighton Grammar teacher Iliakis, of Edithvale, was jailed last year after handcuffing and gagging children to fuel his twisted fantasies.

Iliakis, who was jailed last year for four years with a minimum of two years, had a decade-long obsession with young boys and kept more than 16,000 child pornography images at his marital home.

For four years the grade 6 teacher used the name "Mr Teacherman'' to trade sick requests with other online child porn users, sending them videos and photos he had taken himself. He did not molest any students at the exclusive bayside school.

Reid, of Malvern, was jailed over child pornography in 2008 for three years with a minimum of 15 months.

The former music teacher admitted writing a note about how to "seduce and develop relationships with young males", sentencing judge Lance Pilgrim said.

The AFP worked along side the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, Europol and other international agencies as part of the bust, dubbed Operation Rescue.

Commander Edwards said the total number of children safeguarded around the world would never be known because child porn was ``such a limitless crime".

The website, which portrayed itself as a discussion only forum where people could share their sexual interest in young boys without committing any specific offences, has been taken down.

Members made contact on the site and moved into more private channels like email to exchange and share illegal images and films of children being abused.

Internet investigators also tracked offenders who had migrated to other sites.

Commander Edwards said further investigations and risk assessments then continued against multiple suspects who did not realise they were being probed.

"At the end of the day, our goal is simple: child safety," he said.

"Fear is the foundation of safety and internet safety begins at home. We all need to be aware of the risks online and how to handle these risks."

The AFP and UK-run Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre were the first to realise how big the website was after coming across it during independent inquires.

Covert investigators from the two law enforcement agencies infiltrated the site to identify people they believed posed the highest risk to children.

The maximum penalty in Australia for using a carriage service to receive or disseminate child pornography or possession of child abuse material is 15 years jail and or a $200,000 fine.

http://www.heraldsun...f-1226022892492

[random]

*claps* you can hate on the cops all you like but if there's one thing they deserve praise for its shit like this

fucking filthy pedophile predators least they caught some of them, oh better pop in an *allegedly* to satisfy the haters.

[FancyPants]

Well said, Meeka!

[synchromesh]

No clergymen involved? Somehow I doubt that...

[Sheather]

fucking filthy pedophile predators least they caught some of them

I agree in the context of the predators. Good that they got them, but I for one cannot bring myself to condemn another based on their phillias. A paedophile has no say in whether they are a paedophile or not, just as homosexuals and bisexuals do not "choose" to be the way they are. A paedophile is condemned in my eyes as soon as they become a child molester, cause some damage to anyone underage (this includes use of child pornography, as it almost invariably traumatises the children involved to some capacity), or plan to do so.

I hope you people do not condemn based on a phillia. In my eyes that would make you as bad as the homophobes or xenophobes that make this world a dark place.

I'd say more to better explain myself but surely this will be met with violent and hateful words rather quickly anyway, and I'm in somewhat of a hurry.

Kudos to the cops for catching the fucking arseholes.

[~shameless~]

Only a minimum of two years ,for what he's done?

-Sentencing gone wrong-

[Guest svarg26]

all 70,000 of them should be burned at the stake.

actually i think anyone into paedophilia, homophilia and biphilia should be burned at the stake.

[synchromesh]

Because all pedophiles are the same? Surely there's a big difference between a 17 year old having sex with a 15 year old, and a 45 year old having sex with a 10 year old...

Just wanted to add that not all pedophiles are child molesters*, and not all child molesters are pedophiles**.

* Some never act on their thoughts.

** Some are simply insane.

Edited March 17, 2011 by synchromesh

[Guest svarg26]

anyone over 18, that has sex with anyone under 15, is a pedophile in my book. as soon as you take that step into physical contact, you give up your right to exist. thinking about things and not acting upon them because they are sick and twisted, is what decent human beings do everyday. making good moral decisions gives you the right to live with the rest of us.

[ThunderIdeal]

homophilia, as in homosexuality??

sorry but you could be 110 for all it matters, sex with a 15 year old isn't pedophilia. it's still wrong in my books but generally a 15 year old is a young woman and comparing an 18 year old who has consensual sex with a 15 year old, to somebody having sex with a seven year old, well.... maybe you should be burned at the stake for your incredible intolerance?

[Sheather]

15yr olds isn't paedophillia anyway. It's ephebophillia. I don't see why an arbitrary number generated by government should say whether someone is capable of consent, or someone is sexually active. I agree with ThunderIdeal. Unless your joking your intolerance is almost intolerable!

I think in relation to synchro's first * point, that most paedophiles don't act on their thoughts. Most of them are just as good of people as you or I, who would rather die to a thousand salted wounds than allow a child to be harmed, either by them or another. Remember Paedophillia translates simply to "(obsessive) love of children" and in this sense many of them become very protective of those they love, as anyone does. Those who do act and harm a child should be tortured nine different ways this side of hell.

Jesus was a Paedophile you know. (He loved everyone, remember? ) WWJD?

P.S. Biphillia isn't a word. You might be thinking of bisexual, in which case, in my experience, roughly half of all people are bi to some degree (some more than others), so you better start burning some friends at the stake.

[nabraxas]

I don't see why an arbitrary number generated by government should say whether someone is capable of consent, or someone is sexually active.

In the past & in different cultures it can be much lower than our 16 years.

Shakespear's Juliet is only 13 years old.

[synchromesh]

The concept of pedophilia is quite new in our history.

I think in relation to synchro's first * point, that most paedophiles don't act on their thoughts.

 

I didn't say most, I said some... I have no idea how many pedophiles do or don't act on their thoughts.

Edited March 18, 2011 by synchromesh

[Sheather]

And I said that in relation to your comment, that I think that most paedophiles don't act on them. There are more out there than most people suspect, and people don't suspect because they do not act on them.

[etherealdrifter]

Commenting directly on the pedophile aspect of this thread - (i don't care what consenting adults do with one another )

Rationalizing such behaviour is just as abhorrent as what the peda does to a underager who has no concept of the damage been perpetrated upon them or the life-long trauma yet to unfold.

These rock spiders rarely finish their time without retaliation from 'inside' while incarcerated.

The sad thing is that this has no detrimental influence on their 'illness' or future motivation to rectify their thought patterns.

Why should i pay taxes to shelter,feed e.t.c scumshit like these individuals when they won't (or can't change) their predatory actions.

Many moons ago, this topic came up in a psych lecture i was attending and the prof. got a semester suspension for telling us:

"there is one 'real' cure for this type of diseased mind - eradication of that particular gene pool"

Sterilization,meds,therapy.etc doesn't necessarily mean a positive outcome. Anyway, even if it does, the perp rarely feels remorse for their actions.

Arguments can be based on humanitarian grounds to help/rehabilitate these sexual deviants but i'm sure these people arguing for the basic rights of this type of sick animal would change their minds in a heartbeat if one of these fuckers destroyed their (or a loved one' life).

I'm frikin open minded but this sort of shite posturing about rights - even for the worst shits in our society - is just downright, selfish, petty

point-scoring.

In my Utopian dream, if an individual was unequivocally proved to be a monster - i'd send them to Turkish prison , put em in "the free for all section" with no options.

[hutch]

If I was battling something like that I think I would plead for castration...

[ThunderIdeal]

all 70,000 of them should be burned at the stake.

actually i think anyone into paedophilia, homophilia and biphilia should be burned at the stake.

 

when i saw this i pounced on the report button like a fucking tiger. be gone from here, shit-stirrer. i wonder if he even realised that the admin here is into homophilia when he said that.

(and no, homophilia/biphilia are not words. i checked.)

edit: not that anybody should believe torsten was showing bias in banning that little twerp. better members have been banned for racism, this was no different, except in this case the guy already had a nearly perfect track record for being a dick head.

Edited March 18, 2011 by ThunderIdeal

[random]

You're all having fun detracting from the topic at hand e.g members of a pedophile ring being arrested worldwide.

I sincerely have zero respect for anyone who has sympathy for predators that have molested innocent children or who have derived sexual pleasure by seeing children and babies naked.

And why was homosexuality even mentioned in this thread in the first place by the initial post-er? Absolutely extremely offensive to group homosexuality with pedophilia.

Last time I checked, being gay has absolutely nothing to do with being a sick perverted child molester.

[ThunderIdeal]

because he's a gobshite, note that he is no longer a member here

although while you are quite right it does seem that in this case, the 'worldwide pedophile ring' was homosexual in nature.

[random]

Actually it was Sheather who was initially comparing pedophilia to homosexuality, I find that comparison almost as offensive as svargs hateful post.

So what does heterosexuality and homosexuality have to do with pedophilia anyway?

Sexual violation crimes against children have nothing to do with the sexual orientation of consenting adults, hence I find the comparison offensive and indeed an unnecessary detraction from the gist of this thread.

[ThunderIdeal]

ah ok. well without checking back on the thread, basically pedophilia encompasses those who are attracted to children, not just those who are attracted to children and act upon that children. i can see how that is more than just tangentially relevant. it is generally held true these days that homosexuality is a fairly concrete trait, not a matter of one's choosing, whether or not the same is true of pedophilia that is where the comparison arose from memory.

anyway, i suppose when a parent discovers their child has been molested it is a huge thing for them to deal with, nurturing their child and the impact it may have on their overall family. still, i'm surprised child molestors even make it to prison. i'm not over-protective or anything but if that happens to my nephew or niece and i know who did it, they will never make it to a cemetery much less a prison.

[synchromesh]

15yr olds isn't paedophillia anyway. It's ephebophillia.

 

Some people would beg to differ...

Teen girl charged with posting nude photos on Internet

And I said that in relation to your comment, that I think that most paedophiles don't act on them. There are more out there than most people suspect, and people don't suspect because they do not act on them.

 

Understood. No need to get the hose out...

You're all having fun detracting from the topic at hand e.g members of a pedophile ring being arrested worldwide.

 

Really? Because I thought that we were addressing the topic directly...

I sincerely have zero respect for anyone who has sympathy for predators that have molested innocent children or who have derived sexual pleasure by seeing children and babies naked.

Do you believe that every pedophile has a collection of child porn? Because this simply isn't the case...

And why was homosexuality even mentioned in this thread in the first place by the initial post-er? Absolutely extremely offensive to group homosexuality with pedophilia.

A paedophile has no say in whether they are a paedophile or not, just as homosexuals and bisexuals do not "choose" to be the way they are.

Sorry, but how is this equating homosexuals with pedophiles?

Last time I checked, being gay has absolutely nothing to do with being a sick perverted child molester.

 

Well, as some of us have already said, not every pedophile is a child molester... Deal with it...

[ballzac]

Posted Today, 07:59 PM

Actually it was Sheather who was initially comparing pedophilia to homosexuality, I find that comparison almost as offensive as svargs hateful post.

So what does heterosexuality and homosexuality have to do with pedophilia anyway?

Sexual violation crimes against children have nothing to do with the sexual orientation of consenting adults, hence I find the comparison offensive and indeed an unnecessary detraction from the gist of this thread.

 

Actually Sheather was absolutely right. Why is paedophilia (EDIT: read child molestation) immoral? The answer is that it causes suffering to children. If a person is condemned because of their feelings and desires rather than their actions, then I feel the need to question whether people actually have concern for the suffering of children at all. I mean, if a person is branded as 'bad' because they are attracted to children, and you don't take into account whether their actions actually cause suffering or not, then it is a dogmatic view, not a concern for others that is driving this attitude. None of us know how many people out there have such feelings, because no one in their right mind would express that to others, but I for one would have a great deal of respect for a person that denies themselves sexual pleasure because of the suffering it would cause. I think sheather was making an extremely valid (and brave) point. He was not equating child molestation and consensual sex between adults. I actually find it offensive that you suggest so.

(EDIT: How many people here can honestly say they have never fantasised about killing or otherwise hurting someone? If you haven't, I reckon you're either a true buddhist, or no one's ever hurt you THAT badly. Okay, maybe it's just me. But do I deserve to go to jail for my private thoughts?)

On a different note, I think it's strange - given the public opinion of paeophiles - that they receive such short prison sentences. I don't hold the views that many here have expressed. I certainly don't condone corporal or capital punishment. My main concern is that children are protected from child molesters, and I think that anyone who has committed very serious sex crimes (I do not count an 18 year old having sex with his 'almost sixteen' year old girlfriend in this category for example) should be locked up for life to protect society. I don't care if they have a comfy mattress and eat cake for dessert. Really, I'm far more concerned that they are off the streets than that we get pleasure from seeing them suffer. So why are adult men who repeatedly abuse preteens given such insultingly short sentences as a year or two? While there are differing views on exactly how child molesters should be dealt with, I doubt there would be many people out there who would say a couple of years is enough.

Edited March 18, 2011 by ballzac

[random]

Perhaps I was just arguing semantics, but I've heard so many generalisations in my lifetime about gay men being pedophiles that when I see the two terms put together it shits me.

Whether pedophiles have a choice in their illness or not IMO has nothing to do with the obscene act of violating children which is the reason the predators involved were arrested, and comparing that to hetero or homo sexuality as also not a choice but a wiring of the brain, seems offensive, as homosexuality is not an act of depravity whereas raping innocent children surely is.

Just a play on words perhaps but in my mind its a distinction worth mentioning.

[Sheather]

Actually it was Sheather who was initially comparing pedophilia to homosexuality, I find that comparison almost as offensive as svargs hateful post.

So what does heterosexuality and homosexuality have to do with pedophilia anyway?

Sexual violation crimes against children have nothing to do with the sexual orientation of consenting adults, hence I find the comparison offensive and indeed an unnecessary detraction from the gist of this thread.

It is people like you who I'm talking about when I say most people are closed minded fucking morons Meeka. You think paedophilia is a disease? Or a choice? It is as much a choice as homosexuality, because it IS a sexuality. A paedophile is NOT by definition a CHILD MOLESTER - and I find it offensive that you say that paedophiles and child molsterers are the same thing. Much, if not most of abuse to children originates in "normal people".

My comparison of paedophilia and homosexuality was perfectly acceptable. If you'll fucking read it you'll find I'm not linking the two at all, just COMPARING - as in they share a similar trait.

You sicken me.

Postscript - I went a little off the rails there, I'll admit. Synchromesh and ballzac - It's good to see some people make use of their rational minds. Ballzac raises a good point about short sentences too...