Australian Federal Police (AFP) discovered the images when executing warrants on the men’s homes as part of an ongoing Child Protection Operations investigation last Wednesday.

Mark James Flemming, of Bulahdelah, appeared in Forster Local Court on Thursday facing two charges: using a carriage service to access child pornography and producing, disseminating or processing child pornography – which carry a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.

No plea was entered and he was remanded in custody to appear again on February 15 at Raymond Terrace Local Court.

The Tea Gardens man, who was granted conditional bail, is also due to attend Raymond Terrace Local Court on February 15, when he will then be able to be named.

The AFP will allege the men possessed thousands of images showing a “high level of child abuse.”

The arrests are the latest in an investigation that has charged 17 people, stemming from a single child abuse video file being accessed across the world.