Postal Discovery Leads to Arrest and Charges
French police have arrested and charged a 56-year-old man after postal workers made a horror discovery inside a parcel from China. The incident occurred in Bouc-Bel-Air last month when employees of a delivery company alerted authorities to a package containing what they described as a "child pornography doll".
Officers launched an immediate investigation, which led to the arrest of the man listed as the recipient. A subsequent search of his home was conducted. Prosecutors in Aix-en-Provence revealed that the suspect has a prior conviction for sexual assault.
Admission and International Fallout
During police interview, the alleged buyer admitted to ordering the doll "for sexual purposes." He now faces charges of "importing, attempting to acquire, and attempting to possess pornographic images of a minor." If convicted, he could receive a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of €75,000. His trial is scheduled for January 2.
The doll was reportedly ordered from a website specialising in such products. This case comes amid a wider international crackdown. Last month, the French government threatened to block access to the online retail giant Shein after similar items were found for sale on its platform. Shein stated it had removed all sex dolls in response.
European Governments Promise Action
The issue has gained significant traction across Europe. On Friday, the Swedish government pledged to combat the online sale of child-like sex dolls. Sweden’s Minister for Social Services, Camilla Waltersson Grönvall, expressed profound distress, stating, "as a mother, your heart really breaks watching these images."
Her comments followed a ministerial meeting called in response to several cases involving e-commerce companies. The Swedish child rights organisation ChildX has filed a police report against Amazon and two other retailers regarding the alleged sale of the dolls.
In a written statement, Amazon responded, saying protecting children is a priority and that it welcomes collaboration with authorities. The company emphasised its strict policies prohibiting the sale of sex dolls with child-like appearances, which all third-party sellers must follow.
