Unnamed Individual from Sydney Operates Encrypted Communications System Called Ghost
Australian Federal Police Take Down Global Criminal Communication Platform "Ghost"
In a significant operation, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) have taken down an encrypted communication platform allegedly used by criminals, known as Ghost. The operation, named Operation Kraken, has resulted in multiple arrests, search warrants, and the prevention of serious crimes across four Australian states and territories.
The alleged mastermind behind Ghost, a 32-year-old man named Jay Je Yoon Jung, was charged at his Narwee home on September 17. Jung is facing five charges, including supporting a criminal organization, dealing with the proceeds of an indictable offence, dealing in identifying information, obtaining identification information, and contravening a requirement in a s.3LA order. He is appearing in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on September 18.
Most of the alleged offenders who used Ghost are in New South Wales, but users are also in Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, and the ACT. As of September 17, it is alleged that there were 376 active handsets of Ghost in Australia. Up to 50 alleged Australian offenders accused of using Ghost are facing serious charges, including significant prison sentences.
The opportunity for law enforcement to target Ghost arose in 2022, when international partners started targeting it and asked the AFP to join an operational taskforce. This marks the first time an Australian-based person stands accused of being an alleged mastermind and administrator of a global criminal platform, of which the AFP was able to decrypt and read messages.
Jung, as administrator, regularly pushed out software updates for Ghost, which were modified by the AFP to enable access to device content in Australia. It will be alleged that a network of resellers offered specialized handsets to criminals worldwide, with each handset costing about AUD2,350 and including a six-month subscription to an encrypted network and tech support.
Ghost, created about nine years ago, was allegedly used by criminals for trafficking illicit drugs, money laundering, ordering killings, or threatening serious violence. The AFP-led Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce has obtained Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cth) Restraining Orders over Jung's assets, including various cryptocurrencies and bank accounts.
The AFP executed search warrants and provided support during a two-day action across four Australian states and territories from September 17-18, 2024. Operation Kraken has resulted in 38 arrests, 71 search warrants conducted, intervening in 50 threats to life/threats to harm, preventing the supply of more than 200 kilograms of illicit drugs from harming the Australian community, and seizing 25 illicit firearms/weapons.
Near-simultaneous police action is being undertaken in Ireland, Italy, Sweden, and Canada. Europol established a global task force code-named OTF NEXT, which includes the AFP, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Swedish Police Authority, Dutch National Police, Irish Garda Síochána, Italian Central Directorate for Anti-Drug Service, and the Icelandic Police.
The AFP has emphasised that this operation is a significant step towards dismantling criminal networks and making our communities safer.
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