An Garda SíochánaMore than 50 people have been arrested in a major international investigation that dismantled an encrypted communications platform.
The platform, known as Ghost, was used to facilitate a wide range of criminal activities, including large-scale drug trafficking, money laundering, cases of extreme violence and other forms of serious and organized crime.
Europol and Eurojust, along with international law enforcement authorities, worked together to carry out the operation.
During the investigation, 51 suspects were arrested, including 38 in Australia, 11 in Ireland, one in Canada and one in Italy belonging to the Italian mafia group Sacra Corona Unita.
Europol also said several life threats were prevented and a drug lab in Australia was dismantled.
Guns, drugs and more than €1m (£842,270) in cash have also been seized worldwide so far, the body added.
Ireland Action Day
In Ireland, Gardaí (Irish police) seized cocaine worth a total of €15.2m (£12.8m) and 42 suspected encrypted devices.
They had investigated four identified organized crime groups and support networks based in Dublin and the eastern region.
On Monday, more than 300 gardaí searched 27 premises.
Representatives from Europol, the Australian Federal Police and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation were also in Ireland to support the ongoing operation.
During these searches, investigating gardaí seized:
- €300,000 (£252,795) in cash
- Two Cryptocurrency Keys (content under investigation)
- 42 suspected Ghost ECC encrypted devices
- 126 other mobile devices
- 27 laptops
- 200 plus SIM cards
- Six Rolex watches
- A 2021 Range Rover Jeep
It also intercepted an articulated lorry in the southeast of the country on Monday.
After searching the van, gardaí found 100kg of cocaine deeply hidden.
This cocaine, which is being analyzed by Forensic Science Ireland, is valued at €7m (£5.8m).
Five men, aged 30, 40 and 50, were arrested in connection with this part of the operation.
Getty ImagesWhat is Ghost Platform?
In a statement on Wednesday, An Garda Síochána said the Ghost platform has gained traction among criminal organizations because of its advanced security features.
Users could purchase the solution without personal information.
The solution used three encryption standards and offered the option of sending a message followed by a specific code that causes all messages on the target phone to self-destruct.
This has enabled criminal networks to communicate securely, evade detection, counter forensic measures and coordinate their illegal operations across borders.
Around the world, many thousands of people have used the tool, which has its own infrastructure and applications with a network of resellers based in many countries.
Globally, about a thousand messages are exchanged daily through Ghost.
With servers located in France and Iceland, the company’s owners in Australia, and financial assets located in the United States, a global operation against the phone service began.
Further arrests for the 51 already made are expected in the global investigation.
Europol“They know no borders”
Europol’s executive director, Catherine De Bolle, said the organization had “made it clear that no matter how secretive criminal networks think they are, they cannot avoid our collective effort”.
“Law enforcement authorities from nine countries, together with Europol, have dismantled a tool that has been a lifesaver for serious organized crime,” said Ms De Bolle.
Speaking at Europol headquarters in The Hague, An Garda Síochána Assistant Commissioner Justin Kelly said the involvement of his officers “demonstrates Ireland’s continued commitment and ability to operate internationally targeting transnational organized crime groups that cause so much damage and misery not only in Ireland but in countries around the world.”
“Transnational networks of organized crime groups know no borders and do not respect international borders or rules of law,” he said.
“It takes a network to beat a network and today’s announcement is a clear indication of the power of law enforcement networks in degrading and disrupting the operations of these criminal networks.”
When asked on BBC Radio Ulster’s Afternoon Extra program about how Northern Ireland might be affected by this, Justin Kelly said: “So far our investigations have identified only four criminal organizations all based between Dublin and the east coast of Ireland. Ireland and network facilitators are all based in the Dublin area. ”
“The fact that such devices have not appeared in the UK or NI is something to be thankful for, as there is no doubt that they would appear very soon,” he added.
With regard to these crimes spanning NI and the rest of the UK, he said the activity would “definitely” affect NI.
“People involved in drug trafficking know no borders… drug trafficking takes place throughout the island base. Drugs will be imported through NI for the southern market, just as they are imported through Ireland for the NI market.’
