OSINT Training Log: Nine Child Abuse Suspects Identified in Malaysia

Nine suspects identified in-session. Our OSINT training arms investigators in the fight against child exploitation.

Johor Bahru, Malaysia - May 2026

In Malaysia, OSINT Industries partnered with Australian Federal Police (AFP) Kuala Lumpur and France’s Office Mineurs (OFMIN), to deliver an expert-led training program targeting identification of offenders involved in child abuse and exploitation. The course had a clear objective: gathering actionable intelligence that pins down predators. 

This training has already shown clear results. Using OSINT methodologies to analyse National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) referrals, investigators successfully identified nine suspects. In three cases, the team even progressed beyond online attribution - and pinpointed exact physical addresses for suspected pedophiles.

The Malaysian programme exemplifies the instant impact of OSINT training. Intelligence-led investigations allow police to link anonymous online activity to offline predators - wherever in the world they are.

Challenge: An International “Industry”

‘The consumers are overseas, so it is a global issue … If there were no consumers, then the industry would not exist.’  — Cheng Veniles, UNDOC [Source: United Nations]

Known as ‘Britain’s most prolific pedophile’, Richard Huckle served multiple life sentences for offences against Malaysian children. He preyed on impoverished kids from Christian communities around Kuala Lumpur - authorities estimate that Huckle had over 200 victims. 

However, the exploitation didn’t stop when Huckle flew home. Images of his abuses were circulated online as CSAM (child sexual abuse material, previously termed “child pornography”). He connected with other offenders, and even published a ‘paedophile manual’ that schooled fellow abusers on how to abuse without getting caught.

Images, livestreams, and videos of child sexual abuse have ballooned into a billion-dollar “industry” in East Asia - with the largest concentration of uploads in Malaysia. Many of these images are created by, or for, overseas offenders: thousands of Huckles, Scullys, or Howletts. Just one anonymous overseas user can traumatise, re-traumatise, and enable hundreds of others on-demand.

Yet whilst these online abuses perpetuate trauma, they also leave a trace. A trace that OSINT can track.

‘Every action online is traceable, and offenders who think they can outsmart law enforcement online should think again … Let me be clear – just because the offending may not happen in Australia, we will still find you.”  — Helen Schneider, AFP Commander Human Exploitation [Source: AFP]

OSINT Training: Tracking Online Sex Offenders with OSINT

Location: Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Delivered by: Australian Federal Police (AFP) Kuala Lumpur, OFMIN, OSINT Industries
Participants: 14 investigators from the D11 – Sexual Women and Child Investigation Division, MICAC (Malaysia Internet Crime Against Children)
Duration: 18-22nd May
Outcome: Nine suspected perpetrators identified from NCMEC referrals

Officers were trained to:

• Identify offenders with advanced OSINT methodologies
• Use OSINT tools to back up search and seizure protocols
• Use OSINT tools for identification, collection, and preservation of digital evidence
• Complete systematic and comprehensive digital searches
• Gather intelligence for further digital forensics analysis

Skills and Methodologies

Operational Security (OPSEC) 

Participants learned how to conduct online investigations while minimising their digital footprint. From practical techniques to protect investigators themselves, to safeguarding strategies for sensitive investigations.

Evidence Handling, Forensics, and Field Triage 

Training covered best practices for assessing, prioritising, and preserving digital evidence during investigations. Working with different hardware and software, and keeping evidence courtroom-ready. Officers familiarised themselves with state-of-the-art triage kits, and received specialist training from AFP Forensics professionals. 

Advanced Identification Techniques 

Investigators developed techniques for identifying individuals from limited or fragmented information. How to work with a range of OSINT sources, from hard personal data to behavioural indicators; then correlate them to support subject attribution. Techniques included: 

• Facial Recognition: Facial recognition methodologies and their role in modern investigations. Using comparison technology to match identities cross-source.
• Advanced Searching: Search techniques to uncover unindexed data. Deploying specialised search operators to locate documents, profiles, images, and other leads. 
• Geographical Intelligence (GEOINT): How to extract and analyse geographical information from metadata, visual indicators, and other publicly available data. 
• Social Media Intelligence (SOCMINT): Methods for collecting and analysing intelligence from social media platforms and online communities. Account discovery, network analysis, and behavioural pattern analysis. 

Operational Impact: Suspects Found In-Session

OSINT Industries training sessions include a real-world exercise, where participants can practice their new skills. In Malaysia, trainers conducted a live investigation of NCMEC reports gathered through CyberTipline. 

With complimentary access to OSINT Industries platform, our Malaysian trainees were able to unmask nine suspected predators - before they had even completed their training. This is not the first time training sessions have yielded tangible results: Maltese trainees identified two suspects in-session, whilst our Australian course led to the conviction of a notorious “satanic” pedophile ringleader.  

When they return to their home stations, our Malaysian participants can immediately progress the investigative leads they identified during their training. This course is a powerful instance of international co-operation against abuse in SE Asia - co-operation that will continue long after the session ends. 

“In a few months, France - with the support of the AFP and other international partners - will in turn organize a training initiative in Malaysia to reinforce the skills acquired during this intensive week.”  — Sophie Bazard, ETI Cyberpédocriminalité, Conseillère Régionale en Asie du Sud Est-Bangkok-Thaîlande [Source: LinkedIn)

Trainer Evaluation

“Every offender we track down is one less consumer in a global trade… The fact that these officers were able to identify nine is outstanding. It’s a testament to what OSINT training can do. They had the talent already… all they needed was the training to move those investigations forwards.” — Nathan Rogue, OSINT Industries Trainer [Source: OSINT Industries]

Mission Accomplished 

"Our responsibility is to ensure investigators can move faster than offenders hiding behind technology." — Nathaniel Fried, CEO & Founder of OSINT Industries [Source: OSINT Industries]

OSINT Industries extends its sincere thanks to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) Kuala Lumpur for organising this important initiative, and all the OFMIN, AFP and other law enforcement professionals who provided their expertise. 

Lastly, we thank the Malaysian law enforcement officers who participated for their professionalism, commitment, and dedication throughout the programme.