New Zealand investigation saves children from abuse around world

Seventeen children around the world have been rescued from sexual abuse after the apprehension of a New Zealand man involved in an online abuse network, New Zealand's Department of Internal Affairs said Thursday.

An investigation by Christchurch-based Internal Affairs inspector first led to the identification of a 6-year-old girl in the United States and the arrest of the man who had been sexually abusing her within four days.

Inspector Paul Duke used information gleaned from the mobile phone of Drew Webb to alert police in Houston, Texas, to the crime.

Duke seized Webb's laptop and mobile phone in August 2014 after an online video chat website reported Webb's activities to the department.

"From what was on his phone and from what Webb told me I found a Facebook account of the American abuser and established his likely address using Google Earth street view," Duke said in a statement.

"I also sent pictures of the girl and her offender to Houston police and they found her when they visited the local school."

Other images recovered from the phone led to the identification of a 6-year-old New Zealand girl featured in a video recording by Webb.

Further investigations involving the New Zealand Police resulted in 17 children rescued and 11 adults arrested and charged in various countries.

Webb was jailed Wednesday for six years on 47 charges involving making, distributing, importing and possessing objectionable child sex abuse photos and videos.

"Webb came closest to being involved in the actual abuse of children by pretending he had access to a child and encouraging others to send him pictures with his 'user name' on abused victims," Duke said.

Internal Affairs community safety manager Steve O'Brien said the department was committed to international efforts to help prevent the abuse of children. Endit