Residents of Malmesbury in the Swartland have been left shocked after learning that a 16-year-old teenager was arrested by the South African Police Service (SAPS) on Monday, 17 August.

According to a statement released by SAPS early Tuesday morning, the arrest followed close collaboration with international law-enforcement agencies. The teenager was arrested on charges relating to the accessing, possession, facilitation and downloading of child sexual abuse material, confirmed national police spokesperson Lt Col Amanda van Wyk.

“SAPS’ National Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations (SECI) Team operationalised intelligence received from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Embassy, and the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

The intelligence indicated that a target, suspected of being linked to violent online networks commonly referred to as “764”, was believed to be located in South Africa.

The “764” networks are violent international online extremist networks associated with child exploitation. These perpetrators reportedly target, blackmail, and coerce minors into online sexual abuse, torture and murder of animals and other forms of harmful criminal activity.

Following extensive investigations, the National SECI Team traced the teenager to an address in Malmesbury, where he was arrested in the act yesterday”.

The operation was led by the National SECI Team, supported by members of Head Office Occult Unit, the Paarl Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, Paarl K9 Unit, and Western Cape Crime Scene Investigation Unit, as well as agents from the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), US Embassy.

A preliminary on-site analysis of the suspect’s electronic devices uncovered explicit images and videos depicting child sexual abuse and animal mutilation. The devices will undergo comprehensive forensic analysis to determine the full extent of the alleged offences.

A number of child victims have been identified thus far.

The teenager is expected to appear before the Malmesbury Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 18 August.

The possibility of additional offences relating to fraud and money laundering forms part of ongoing investigations.

Local police spokesperson Sgt Henry du Randt confirmed that the Malmesbury police station was not involved in the investigation or the arrest of the accused.