Australian police on Wednesday arrested the creator of the encrypted communications app “Ghost”, used by criminal networks in several countries, as part of a large international operation that has left 38 other people detained in Australia.
In addition to the ocean country, Raids also took place as part of this operation in Canada, Ireland, Italy and Sweden.as reported on Wednesday in a press release from the Australian Federal Police.
The creator and administrator of the “Ghost” program, 32, was arrested at his Sydney residence and will appear in court on Wednesday to be charged with several crimes, including supporting a criminal organization, according to reports. Efe.
AUSTRALIA
BREAKING – Australian Federal Police raid crime syndicate to ‘bust’, see alleged creator of mob app arrested and charged
SEPTEMBER 17, 2024
Australian man allegedly created encrypted platform designed for criminals… pic.twitter.com/PRHiULKa9O– Abhay (@AstuteGaba) September 18, 2024
According to the police investigation, the accused created “Ghost” nine years ago and has since sold the program “to criminals around the world”, including organized crime groups in Italy, South Korea and the Middle East.
The requestinstalled on smartphones and whose six-month subscription costs 2,350 Australian dollars (around 1,600 US dollars or nearly 1,430 euros), It has been used for crimes such as drug trafficking, money laundering, ordering murders or threats of violence.the police emphasize.
“Over the past two days, approximately 700 federal police officers have executed search warrants across four (Australian) states to arrest those who used the encrypted communications platform called ‘Ghost’,” said Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Ian McCartney.
Australian police, who have managed to infiltrate the program and intervene in 50 criminal threats through it, estimate that there are currently more than 375 active devices with this program in Australia alone.
The authorities of the oceanic countrywho in this operation also seized 205 kilograms of drugs, 25 firearms and 1.2 million Australian dollars, They expect to make further arrests in the coming days..
For her part, the director of Europol, Catherine De Bolle, stressed in the same press release the success of this operation to dismantle the programme used by criminal syndicates and in which security forces from nine countries participated.
“Today we made it clear that no matter how hidden criminal networks are created, they cannot escape our collective efforts,” De Bolle noted.
