Police have arrested a P&O Australia passenger as the man disembarked at Sydney’s International Passenger Terminal. He was detained for inappropriate activity, on suspicion of attempting to groom a minor.
The 48-year-old man, a resident of Griffith NSW, has not been named. According to the New South Wales Police Sex Crimes Squad, he had arranged online to meet up with what he thought was a 14-year-old girl on the return from his South Pacific voyage.
Police began an investigation in June. Detectives discovered an anonymous online user who was attempting to contact kids. During the investigation, the man allegedly sent inappropriate photos/videos to (who he believed was) a 14-year-old girl.
He was charged with using a carriage service to procure a child under 16 years for sexual activity. After being questioned, he was denied bail and appeared in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Friday, August 9th.
NSW Police said the arrest was part of the broader Strike Force Trawler investigation into online grooming, overseen by the Child Exploitation Internet Unit.
The man was a passenger on the Pacific Adventure ship, which docked in Sydney harbour an hour before the arrest was made.
The P&O AU ship had been on a 10-day "Discover Vanuatu" roundtrip Sydney voyage visiting Mystery Island, Port Vila, and Champagne Bay. Pacific Adventure departed later on Friday for a roundtrip to Moreton Island Queensland.
Pacific Adventure (fka Golden Princess) will be rebranded and integrated into the CCL-Carnival fleet in 2025-Q1 when the P&O Australia brand is phased out.
For more Pacific Adventure incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.