Hundreds arrested in ‘staggering’ global crime sting
In all, officials said, they raked in some 27 million messages on phones which were used “exclusively” by criminals.
Cops in 16 countries were able to read the messages of underworld figures as they plotted drug deals, arms transfers and gangland hits on the compromised ANOM devices.
Mafia groups, Asian crime syndicates, motorcycle gangs and other criminal networks were all monitored using the spiked phones as part of “Operation Trojan Shield.”
The sting, jointly conceived by Australia and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, prevented around 150 murders, foiled several large-scale narcotics shipments and led to seizures of 250 weapons and $48 million in currency, they added.
Spy phones in gangsters back pockets leads to more than 800 arrests worldwide
By Reuters
Colin Packham and Toby Sterling
Canberra/Amsterdam - A global sting in which organised crime gangs were sold encrypted phones that law enforcement officials could monitor has led to more than 800 arrests and the confiscation of drugs, weapons, cash and luxury cars, officials said on Tuesday.
The operation by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, Australian and European police ensnared suspects in Australia, Asia, Europe, South America and the Middle East involved in the narcotics trade, the officials said.
Millions of dollars in cash were seized in raids around the world, along with 30 tonnes of drugs including more than eight tonnes of cocaine.
Global Crackdown on Organised Crime After High-tech US-Australia Sting
Named Operation Trojan Shield by the FBI, it was one of the biggest infiltrations and takeovers of a specialised encrypted network.
Australian Federal Police during its Operation Ironside against organised crime, June 8, 2021. Photo: Australian Federal Police/Handout via Reuters
World1 hour ago
Canberra: US and Australian agencies hacked into an app used by criminals and read millions of encrypted messages, leading to hundreds of arrests of suspected organised crime figures in 18 countries, Australian officials said on Tuesday.
The operation by Australian police and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) ensnared suspects in Australia, Asia, South America and the Middle East involved in the global narcotics trade, the officials said.
Three relatives of Istanbul-based drug kingpin Hakan Ayik have been implicated in the ambitious global law enforcement operation involving the An0m platform.