Wed Sep 18 03:18:47 UTC 2024: ## Australian Police Crack Encrypted App Used by Global Criminal Network, Leading to Dozens of Arrests
**MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA** – In a major blow to organized crime, Australian police announced Wednesday that they have successfully infiltrated and decrypted “Ghost,” an encrypted global communications app allegedly designed for criminal use. The operation, conducted in collaboration with international law enforcement agencies, has resulted in the arrest of dozens of suspects worldwide.
The alleged administrator of Ghost, 32-year-old Jay Je Yoon Jung, was apprehended in Sydney and charged with supporting a criminal organization and benefiting from proceeds of crime. Jung is currently in custody and will remain there until his case returns to court in November.
Australian authorities conducted raids across four states, leading to the arrest of 38 suspects. Further arrests were also made in Canada, Sweden, Ireland, and Italy. According to Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Ian McCartney, “We allege hundreds of criminals including Italian organized crime, motorcycle gang members, Middle Eastern organized crime and Korean organized crime have used Ghost in Australia and overseas to import illicit drugs and order killings.”
Assistant Commissioner Kirsty Schofield revealed that police were able to prevent 50 potential murders, kidnappings, and serious injuries by monitoring threats within 125,000 messages and 120 video calls intercepted since March.
The investigation revealed that Jung allegedly developed Ghost specifically for criminal use in 2017. Australia joined a Europol-led global task force targeting Ghost in 2022, receiving crucial technical support from France’s Home Affairs Ministry National Cyber Command Technical Department.
French authorities provided the crucial “foot in the door,” enabling Australian police to decrypt Ghost communications. Australian police technicians were able to modify software updates regularly pushed out by the administrator, effectively gaining access to the content on Australian devices.
Jung, who resided in his parents’ home in Sydney, was arrested on Tuesday and had no prior criminal record. He used a network of resellers to offer specialized handsets to criminals around the world. These modified smartphones sold for 2,350 Australian dollars ($1,590) and included a six-month subscription to Ghost and tech support.
The successful infiltration of Ghost marks a significant victory for law enforcement against the increasingly sophisticated methods used by organized crime. The operation highlights the importance of international collaboration in tackling global criminal networks.
First Piper 