The unit's name was derived from Greek mythology, in which Argus Panoptes, or Argos, was a primordial "all seeing" giant with multiple eyes, guardian of the goddess Io.
[6] Argos formed an alliance with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in a lengthy covert operation that smashed a sophisticated international network of online offenders responsible for distributing and creating on-demand graphic, child exploitation material.
Argos officers infiltrated the international child sex offender network who were trading images and videos depicting the violent sexual abuse of children.
The completion of Achilles and its associated sub-operations around the world resulted in the removal of more than 60 children from sexually abusive situations, the arrest of 22 network members globally and the closure of four commercial child exploitation websites.
[8] Argos has also been responsible for partnering with software powerhouse Microsoft to develop the Australian National Victim Image Library aimed at reducing investigator exposure to child exploitation material and improve opportunity to identify children at risk.
[9] Argos works closely with international counterparts to deliver positive outcomes for child victims, irrespective of where those children might be geographically located.
[15] Although the offender was successfully committed to the district court for trial, on 9 September 2009 it was announced that the charges had been dropped by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions after reviewing the case.