The Asset Forfeiture Unit secured a court order to seize over R647,000 and a luxury car in a child pornography case linked to Darren Wilken.
South African authorities have seized cash and assets worth more than R647,000 in a child pornography case involving Darren Wilken and his girlfriend, Tiona Megan Moodley. The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) secured a court order. This order was to preserve the funds and assets linked to the accused.
The legal action follows a search and seizure operation by the Cybercrime Unit of the South African Police Service (SAPS) on Jan. 17, 2025. Authorities arrested Wilken on multiple charges, including manufacturing and distributing child pornography, drug possession, and money laundering amongst others.
According to Phindi Mjonondwane, the spokesperson for the NPA Gauteng, the operation resulted from an international investigation. This included U.S. law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI and the Secret Service.
Wilken is accused of operating a child pornography website that allegedly distributed child sexual abuse material worldwide. “He ran this operation from a Midrand residential complex, hosting what investigators believe to be the largest collection of such material ever discovered in South Africa,” Mjonondwane said.
During the raid, authorities seized Wilken’s luxury vehicle, which had a controversial registration plate reading “KIDZ NA GP.” Officers also confiscated high-end electronic equipment and cash exceeding R647,000.
These assets are now the subject of the AFU’s preservation order, aimed at preventing their potential dissipation. The court granted the urgent application to freeze the funds while the investigation continues.
Moodley was also arrested as an accomplice, facing similar charges. The Randburg Regional Court denied bail for both suspects on Feb. 14, 2025, after the State Advocate opposed their application for bail.
Mjonondwane confirmed that investigations remain ongoing both locally and internationally to safeguard the rights of children.
