A Sydney man has been charged following an investigation into alleged online child grooming after police say he attempted to communicate with someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl, who was in fact an undercover police officer.

Detectives from the NSW Police Force’s Strike Force Raptor arrested the 39-year-old at his Merrylands home on Wednesday morning after a two-month investigation. Police allege the man used a social media platform to engage in sexually explicit conversations and sent indecent images while believing he was communicating with a child.

According to investigators, the online interaction began on 1 May before information gathered by interstate police was referred to NSW authorities. Detectives then commenced an investigation that ultimately resulted in the man’s arrest.

Police executed a search warrant at the Merrylands property, where electronic devices were allegedly seized for forensic examination. Officers also reported locating a quantity of prohibited drugs during the search.

The man has been charged with multiple offences, including using a carriage service to groom a person under 16 for sexual activity, using a carriage service to send indecent material to a person under 16, using a carriage service to procure a child for sexual activity, and possession of a prohibited drug.

At this stage, all allegations remain before the courts. The accused has not been found guilty of any offence, and the charges will be tested through the judicial process.

Police have also alleged the accused has associations with individuals connected to Sydney’s Alameddine organised crime network. Authorities have not alleged that the child grooming charges formed part of any organised crime activity, and the alleged associations are separate from the offences currently before the court.

Strike Force Raptor was established by NSW Police to investigate and disrupt serious organised crime groups operating across the state. The unit regularly works with interstate and federal agencies when investigations cross jurisdictional boundaries.

Detective Inspector Brad Abdy said cooperation between Australian law enforcement agencies played an important role in the investigation.

He said the alleged communications were intercepted before any real child became involved, describing the outcome as an example of how information sharing between agencies can help prevent children from becoming victims of online exploitation.

Investigators say online grooming frequently involves offenders attempting to build trust with young people before conversations become increasingly sexual or attempts are made to obtain explicit images or arrange face-to-face meetings. Law enforcement agencies encourage parents to discuss online safety with children and remind young people not to share personal information or move conversations onto private messaging platforms with strangers.

Australian authorities have repeatedly warned that offenders can operate anonymously across state and international borders using encrypted messaging applications, social media platforms and online chat services. As a result, many investigations now involve cooperation between multiple police jurisdictions before arrests are made.

Police say undercover operations remain one of several investigative techniques used to identify people allegedly attempting to exploit children online. These operations may involve investigators assuming the identity of minors in online environments where suspicious activity has been detected.

Under Commonwealth law, offences involving the use of a carriage service to groom or procure a child carry significant maximum penalties if proven in court. Prosecutors must still establish each element of the alleged offences beyond reasonable doubt before any conviction can be recorded.

Following his arrest, the accused appeared before the Bail Division of the Local Court, where bail was refused. He is expected to return to court at a later date as proceedings continue.

The case also highlights the broader challenge facing Australian law enforcement agencies as more child exploitation investigations originate through online communications rather than face-to-face contact. Police continue to encourage members of the public to report suspicious online behaviour, particularly where children may be at risk, so investigators can intervene as early as possible.

As legal proceedings remain ongoing, further evidence is expected to be considered by the court in due course. Until the matter is finalised, the allegations against the accused remain unproven.