Australian Police Crack Down on Criminals Using Encrypted App
In a major breakthrough, Australian police have managed to infiltrate Ghost, an encrypted global communications app used by criminals, resulting in the arrest of dozens of suspects, as reported by the Associated Press.
The alleged mastermind behind the app, Jay Je Yoon Jung, 32, appeared in a Sydney court facing charges related to supporting criminal activities and benefiting from illegal proceeds.
Authorities have arrested 38 individuals in raids across multiple states, while international law enforcement agencies in Canada, Sweden, Ireland, and Italy have also made arrests in connection with the app.
Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Ian McCartney revealed that various criminal groups, including Italian organized crime syndicates, motorcycle gangs, and Middle Eastern and Korean crime organizations, have used Ghost to engage in illicit activities such as drug trafficking and ordering hits.
Assistant Commissioner Kirsty Schofield highlighted that Australian police were able to prevent numerous potential crimes by monitoring messages and video calls on the app since March, ultimately saving lives.
The app, allegedly developed by Jung for criminal purposes in 2017, has been a major target for law enforcement agencies globally, with Australia joining a Europol-led taskforce to combat its use.
French authorities provided crucial technical assistance to help decrypt Ghost communications, allowing Australian police to gain access to the content shared on the platform.
McCartney revealed that Australian technicians were able to manipulate software updates pushed out by the administrator, effectively infecting devices and enabling access to their content.
Jung, who resided in his parents’ home in Sydney, was apprehended by police at his residence, where he had been operating a network of resellers offering specialized handsets bundled with subscriptions to Ghost for a hefty price.
These modified smartphones were sold for $1,590 Australian dollars each, providing criminals with a secure means of communication for their illicit activities. – CNN
