Vic man sought child sex overseas: Police

A Melbourne man who allegedly tried to arrange sex with girls as young as 12 in the Philippines has been arrested and charged.

The US-based National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children had information a person was making plans to meet with girls aged between 12 and 16 for sexual activity in the Philippines, and passed it onto Australian Federal Police.

The 50-year-old Truganina man was arrested on Thursday and charged following an investigation by the Victorian Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team and the AFP.

Police will allege child exploitation material was found in DVDs, magazines and on devices at the man's house.

AFP commander Lesa Gale said the investigation highlighted the global realities of child exploitation.

"There are offenders who seek to use privacy and anonymity of the internet to identify and target vulnerable children," Commander Gale said on Friday.

Victoria Police Inspector John Manley said the challenging and complex investigation started in May and it had a very good outcome.

The man will appear in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Friday charged with procuring a child to engage in sexual activity outside Australia and possessing child exploitation material.