A ‘disturbing’ number of child-like sex dolls have been imported into New South Wales over the last year, with a string of middle-aged men arrested.
Australian Border Force (ABF) raided properties in the Newcastle and Hunter Valley area and arrested four people over the span of about a year.
The crackdown was sparked by a ‘disturbing rise in attempted importations’.
Trevor Richard Jones, 63, was arrested at his home near Newcastle and charged with one count of intentionally importing prohibited Tier 2 goods without approval.
He pleaded guilty in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday, the Daily Telegraph reported. His matter was adjourned to Toronto in August.
In April 2025, officers intercepted a sex doll delivered in an air cargo package which had been declared as a ‘silicone doll’.
The discovery prompted the arrest of Paul Adams, 49, on a rural property near Scone, about two hours north of Newcastle, in May.
He was charged with the importation count as well as a series of other charges including four counts of possessing etc child abuse data – using a carriage service, and one count of possessing bestiality material.
Trevor Richard Jones, 63, was arrested at his home near Newcastle and charged with one count of intentionally importing prohibited Tier 2 goods without approval.
Paul Adams, 49, was arrested on a rural property near Scone in May (pictured)
Adams remains in custody on remand and has not applied for bail or entered a plea.
Two months later, another suspected child-like sex doll was intercepted on its way to a home in Whitebridge, Newcastle.
Anthony Blakewell, 55, was arrested and charged at his home in northern NSW.
He was granted conditional bail and is due to appear in court on August 6.
The maximum penalty for those convicted of importing Tier 2 Goods, namely child-like sex dolls, is a fine of up to $782,500 or imprisonment for 10 years, or both.
On each arrest, officers also seized a number of mobile phones and electronic devices allegedly found to contain references to child abuse material.
ABF said illicit drugs were also found and seized at one of the homes.
Inspector Michael Mahony said the force was ‘resolute in its commitment to seize any and all forms of abhorrent child abuse material at the border and ensure those responsible are prosecuted’.
Anthony Blakewell, 55, was arrested and charged at his home in northern NSW (pictured)
‘Dolls that normalise child exploitation are far from a victimless crime and they have no place in the Australian community,’ he said.
‘These are just a few examples of recent actions taken by the ABF in relation to child-like sex dolls.
‘Our officers utilise intelligence-led screening and risk-based targeting to disrupt illicit goods like these child-like sex dolls from being imported into our country.’
