The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has played a critical role in dismantling a global online sextortion network, leading to the arrest of 22 suspects in Nigeria as part of a landmark international crackdown.
The joint operation, codenamed Operation Artemis, was led by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in partnership with the AFP, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. It targeted a sophisticated criminal syndicate allegedly responsible for thousands of online sextortion crimes that have devastated victims worldwide — particularly teenagers.
Among those arrested were two Nigeria-based offenders linked to the tragic suicide of a 16-year-old boy in New South Wales in 2023.

AFP Acting Commander Ben Moses, who leads the ACCCE, hailed the international cooperation behind the operation.
“This global operation sends a clear message to those who exploit children online. Law enforcement is united and determined to find you — no matter where you hide.”
Acting Commander Moses added:
“These crimes are calculated and devastating, often pushing vulnerable young people into extreme distress. Thanks to the coordinated action of our partners, we achieved meaningful results including an immediate and significant reduction in sextortion reports across Australia.”
The network’s cruel scheme coerced young victims into sharing sexually explicit images and then blackmailed them by threatening to release the content unless they paid up. In the US alone, more than 20 teen suicides have been linked to sextortion cases since 2021, highlighting the grave consequences of these digital crimes.
Although many of the victims were based in North America, the impact of the offending rippled across the globe — reaching Australia and other nations.
During the operation, two AFP officers were deployed to Nigeria where they helped trace digital activity, link evidence to suspects, and identify both perpetrators and victims. Investigators from the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) also contributed by analysing seized data and ensuring coordination with ongoing Australian investigations.
Their efforts have had measurable local results. In the 2023–2024 financial year, the ACCCE received 58,503 reports of online child exploitation, including 1,554 sextortion-related reports — a stark indicator of the growing scale and sophistication of online child abuse.
However, since the arrest phase of Operation Artemis concluded in early 2023, the AFP has reported a significant and immediate drop in sextortion cases — suggesting the operation has disrupted key offenders.
Despite the success, online threats targeting Australian children persist. The ACCCE continues to receive reports from the public, and law enforcement agencies remain vigilant.
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