A significant breakthrough in the fight against organized crime has emerged from Australia, where police have successfully infiltrated Ghost, an encrypted communications application purportedly designed for criminal use. This operation has led to the arrest of numerous suspects and the disruption of various criminal networks.
Details of the Operation
On Wednesday, Australian authorities reported that they had apprehended 38 individuals across four states as part of a coordinated effort that also saw law enforcement agencies in Canada, Sweden, Ireland, and Italy making arrests. The alleged mastermind behind Ghost, Jay Je Yoon Jung, 32, appeared in a Sydney court facing serious charges, including supporting a criminal organization and profiting from criminal activities. Jung did not enter a plea and will remain in custody until his next court appearance in November.
Deputy Commissioner Ian McCartney of the Australian Federal Police stated that the app has been utilized by a diverse array of criminal groups, including Italian organized crime syndicates, motorcycle gangs, and Middle Eastern and Korean crime organizations. These groups have reportedly used Ghost to facilitate the importation of illegal drugs and orchestrate violent acts.
Preventing Violence and Crime
Assistant Commissioner Kirsty Schofield highlighted the proactive measures taken by the police, revealing that they had monitored over 125,000 messages and 120 video calls since March. This surveillance has reportedly prevented 50 potential incidents of murder, kidnapping, or serious harm.
Jung is believed to have developed the Ghost app in 2017 specifically for criminal enterprises. The Australian police's involvement with a global task force targeting Ghost began in 2022, in collaboration with the FBI and French Gendarmerie, among others. This task force also includes the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and various European law enforcement agencies.
International Collaboration
Supt. Marie Eve Lavallée from the RCMP emphasized Canada’s commitment to combating international drug trafficking, stating that the global investigation exemplifies effective strategies against organized crime. Col. Florian Manet from France’s Home Affairs Ministry noted that his department provided crucial technical resources to assist in decrypting communications over the years.
McCartney praised the French authorities for their role in facilitating access to Ghost communications, which proved instrumental in the investigation. Australian police technicians managed to modify software updates sent by Jung, effectively allowing them to access content on devices used by criminals in Australia.
Jung, who was arrested at his parents’ home, allegedly operated a network of resellers that provided specialized smartphones to criminals worldwide. These modified devices, priced at 2,350 Australian dollars (approximately $1,590), came with a six-month subscription to Ghost and technical support.
