"Big fish" in dark web child porn network remanded into custody

The Public Prosecutor believes it caught a "big fish" in the distributors of child pornography on the dark web with the arrest of a 26-year-old man from Gorinchem. The court in Rotterdam remanded the man into custody for three months on Tuesday, NU.nl reports.

The man was arrested on January 18th. He has been in restricted custody since then, also denied internet access out of concern that he will warn his 'friends'. Child pornography was found on the man's computer, including material of very young children, the Public Prosecutor said.

According to the Prosecutor, the man played a key role in an organization of child porn distributors on the dark web. The man acted as a moderator and manager of multiple websites that have been active since 2016. In addition to possession and distribution of child pornography, the man is also suspected of participating in a criminal organization with the intent of distributing child pornography. In the interest of the investigation, the Prosecutor did not reveal the names of the websites the man is suspected of running.

The next pro-forma hearing in this case is scheduled three months from now. The Prosecutor expects "to know much more" about the discovered child pornography by then.