International police dismantle Ghost, a messaging app used by criminals, more than 50 people arrested
On September 18, 2024, Europol and law enforcement agencies from nine countries, including Australia, announced that they had successfully dismantled an encrypted communications platform called 'Ghost,' which was used for organized crime such as drug trafficking and money laundering.
Global Coalition Takes Down New Criminal Communication Platform | Europol
AFP Operation Kraken charges alleged head of global organized crime app | Australian Federal Police
https://www.afp.gov.au/news-centre/media-release/afp-operation-kraken-charges-alleged-head-global-organised-crime-app
Australian police infiltrate encrypted messaging app Ghost and arrest dozens | AP News
https://apnews.com/article/australia-ghost-encrypted-app-bad89db81faecc6581d25818c0d7765d
Europol takes down 'Ghost' encrypted messaging platform used for crime
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/europol-takes-down-ghost-encrypted-messaging-platform-used-for-crime/
Ghost was a highly secure and anonymizing messaging app with triple-layered encryption and a message self-destruct system that deleted all evidence from both the sender and recipient's devices.
Using Ghost, thousands of people around the world exchanged nearly 1,000 messages every day, helping to form a global criminal network. The subscription fee was $2,350 (about 330,000 yen) for six months, and the fee included a modified smartphone and technical support services.
The company that ran Ghost was owned by a resident of Australia, with servers based in France and Iceland and financial assets in the US, leading to a global collaboration to crack down on Ghost.
Thus, the Operational Task Force (OTF) established at Europol in March 2022 included police agencies from nine countries: Australia, Canada, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United States. In January 2024, a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was also formed between French and US authorities.
A series of investigations and crackdowns around the world have resulted in the arrest of 51 people - 38 in Australia, 11 in Ireland, one each in Canada and Italy - and the seizure of weapons, drugs and over 1 million euros in cash. More arrests are expected to be made as the investigation progresses.
Australia saw a particularly large number of arrests, with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) conducting Operation Kraken, executing 71 search warrants and uncovering 25 illegal firearms and weapons and 200kg of illegal drugs.
Five suspects, including Jay Je Yoon Jung, the app's administrator, are facing five charges and a combined sentence of 26 years in prison.
Authorities say Yoon developed Ghost for criminal purposes in 2017, but he denied the charges when he appeared in Sydney court on charges of aiding a criminal organisation and benefiting from the proceeds of crime. Yoon did not apply for bail and will remain in custody until his trial resumes in November 2024.
'Today we made clear that no criminal network escapes our collective efforts, no matter where it is hiding. Together with Europol, law enforcement agencies from nine countries around the world have dismantled a lifeline of serious organized crime,' said Europol Executive Director Catherine de Borree.
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