Topline: Australian authorities describe the seized material as “particularly devastating” and beyond typical abuse cases.
Published: December 5, 2025 8:00 am ET
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NSW Police arrest a man in "international satanic child sex abuse material ring," investigation on November 27, 2025. Portions of this photo were blurred by the police force. (via NSW Police Force)
SYDNEY, AU — Four men in Sydney have been charged with possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material as part of an international network that allegedly used satanic symbols and rituals.
Detectives executed search warrants across the city on Nov. 27, as part of a long-running investigation into the online distribution of child abuse videos. The arrests were announced Monday, Dec. 1, by the New South Wales Police Force’s Sex Crimes Squad.
The suspects were identified as Landon Germanotta-Mills, 26; Stuart Woods Riches, 39; Mark Andrew Sendecky, 42; and Benjamin Raymond Drysdale, 46, as per Associated Press.
Police said Germanotta-Mills played a “leading role” in the scheme, while he and Drysdale were accused of distributing the material online.
In one raid, officers used a battering ram to enter Germanotta-Mills’ apartment in Waterloo. Video released by
police and reported by CNN showed him being led out in handcuffs, wearing a striped top and shorts.
Officers seized numerous electronic devices that allegedly contained thousands of videos depicting the abuse of children, from infants to 12-year-olds. Germanotta-Mills also faces an additional charge of disseminating and possessing bestiality material, police said.
The arrests stemmed from Strike Force Constantine, a task force created to investigate encrypted child abuse material involving occult themes. Detectives allege the Sydney group was part of a larger global ring sharing content through an internationally administered website.
Police said the seized material depicted child abuse and torture involving satanic symbols and rituals.
Det. Supt. Jayne Doherty told reporters on Dec. 1, “Police will allege in court that this international group were engaging in conversations and the sharing of material which depicted child abuse and the torture of children involving symbols and rituals linked to Satanism and the occult.”
Doherty added that the content was “particularly devastating” and went beyond typical cases. “There’s no run-of-the-mill child abuse, it’s all abhorrent child abuse,” she said, according to the Associated Press.
Legal Aid NSW, representing Germanotta-Mills, said it could not comment on individual cases. Counsel for the other defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
All four men were denied bail and remain in custody. They are scheduled to appear in court in January.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Four Sydney Men Charged in Alleged Satanic Child Abuse Ring
Australian authorities describe the seized material as “particularly devastating” and beyond typical abuse cases.
By Kate Byrd
Published: December 5, 2025 8:00 am ET
NSW Police arrest a man in "international satanic child sex abuse material ring," investigation on November 27, 2025. Portions of this photo were blurred by the police force. (via NSW Police Force)
SYDNEY, AU — Four men in Sydney have been charged with possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material as part of an international network that allegedly used satanic symbols and rituals.
Detectives executed search warrants across the city on Nov. 27, as part of a long-running investigation into the online distribution of child abuse videos. The arrests were announced Monday, Dec. 1, by the New South Wales Police Force’s Sex Crimes Squad.
The suspects were identified as Landon Germanotta-Mills, 26; Stuart Woods Riches, 39; Mark Andrew Sendecky, 42; and Benjamin Raymond Drysdale, 46, as per Associated Press.
Police said Germanotta-Mills played a “leading role” in the scheme, while he and Drysdale were accused of distributing the material online.
In one raid, officers used a battering ram to enter Germanotta-Mills’ apartment in Waterloo. Video released by
police and reported by CNN showed him being led out in handcuffs, wearing a striped top and shorts.
Officers seized numerous electronic devices that allegedly contained thousands of videos depicting the abuse of children, from infants to 12-year-olds. Germanotta-Mills also faces an additional charge of disseminating and possessing bestiality material, police said.
The arrests stemmed from Strike Force Constantine, a task force created to investigate encrypted child abuse material involving occult themes. Detectives allege the Sydney group was part of a larger global ring sharing content through an internationally administered website.
Police said the seized material depicted child abuse and torture involving satanic symbols and rituals.
Det. Supt. Jayne Doherty told reporters on Dec. 1, “Police will allege in court that this international group were engaging in conversations and the sharing of material which depicted child abuse and the torture of children involving symbols and rituals linked to Satanism and the occult.”
Doherty added that the content was “particularly devastating” and went beyond typical cases. “There’s no run-of-the-mill child abuse, it’s all abhorrent child abuse,” she said, according to the Associated Press.
Legal Aid NSW, representing Germanotta-Mills, said it could not comment on individual cases. Counsel for the other defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
All four men were denied bail and remain in custody. They are scheduled to appear in court in January.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Four Sydney Men Charged in Alleged Satanic Child Abuse Ring
Australian authorities describe the seized material as “particularly devastating” and beyond typical abuse cases.
By Kate Byrd
Published: December 5, 2025 8:00 am ET
NSW Police arrest a man in "international satanic child sex abuse material ring," investigation on November 27, 2025. Portions of this photo were blurred by the police force. (via NSW Police Force)
SYDNEY, AU — Four men in Sydney have been charged with possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material as part of an international network that allegedly used satanic symbols and rituals.
Detectives executed search warrants across the city on Nov. 27, as part of a long-running investigation into the online distribution of child abuse videos. The arrests were announced Monday, Dec. 1, by the New South Wales Police Force’s Sex Crimes Squad.
The suspects were identified as Landon Germanotta-Mills, 26; Stuart Woods Riches, 39; Mark Andrew Sendecky, 42; and Benjamin Raymond Drysdale, 46, as per Associated Press.
Police said Germanotta-Mills played a “leading role” in the scheme, while he and Drysdale were accused of distributing the material online.
In one raid, officers used a battering ram to enter Germanotta-Mills’ apartment in Waterloo. Video released by
police and reported by CNN showed him being led out in handcuffs, wearing a striped top and shorts.
Officers seized numerous electronic devices that allegedly contained thousands of videos depicting the abuse of children, from infants to 12-year-olds. Germanotta-Mills also faces an additional charge of disseminating and possessing bestiality material, police said.
The arrests stemmed from Strike Force Constantine, a task force created to investigate encrypted child abuse material involving occult themes. Detectives allege the Sydney group was part of a larger global ring sharing content through an internationally administered website.
Police said the seized material depicted child abuse and torture involving satanic symbols and rituals.
Det. Supt. Jayne Doherty told reporters on Dec. 1, “Police will allege in court that this international group were engaging in conversations and the sharing of material which depicted child abuse and the torture of children involving symbols and rituals linked to Satanism and the occult.”
Doherty added that the content was “particularly devastating” and went beyond typical cases. “There’s no run-of-the-mill child abuse, it’s all abhorrent child abuse,” she said, according to the Associated Press.
Legal Aid NSW, representing Germanotta-Mills, said it could not comment on individual cases. Counsel for the other defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
All four men were denied bail and remain in custody. They are scheduled to appear in court in January.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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