A 56-year old man has been accused of drugging at least 16 male backpackers, then making videos while he raped them.
Police in New Zealand say Michael Harris who owns a hostel allegedly carried his crimes over a period of 30 months at the Mainstreet Lodge in Kaitaia.
The victims are reportedly mostly 18 to 25-year-old overseas travelers.
Authorities, according to Sky News, say images they have recovered depict Harris sexually abusing the young men. Police want to talk to anyone who has stayed at the hostel over the past few years.
Police working on the case have already received calls and emails from around the world in connection with allegations against Harris.
“These victims are unlikely to know that something has happened to them, although they may have suspicions,” Detective Senior Sergeant Rhys Johnson said in a statement Wednesday. “We will deal sensitively with them and offer all appropriate support required.”
“This is an ongoing investigation and we have a lot of work ahead to assess evidence and establish if there are further victims we are not yet aware of,” Johnson added.
Harris was indicted on 39 charges, including aggravated wounding, making of intimate visual recordings, possession of intimate visual recordings and indecent assault. He is expected to appear in court next week.
