The Australian Federal Police (AFP) conducted Operation Kraken [1] [3] [4] [5] [7] [8], successfully dismantling a global criminal syndicate by infiltrating the encrypted communication platform Ghost.
Description
This operation led to the arrest of Jay Je Yoon Jung, a 32-year-old man from New South Wales [1], Australia [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8], who was identified as the mastermind behind Ghost. Working in collaboration with international law enforcement agencies, the AFP executed search warrants in Australia, Ireland [3] [4] [5] [7], Italy [3] [4] [5] [7], Sweden [3] [5] [7], and Canada [3] [5] [7], resulting in the seizure of assets and the arrest of numerous individuals involved in criminal activities. Europol’s task force, OTF NEXT [4], was established to further investigate Ghost, leading to 38 arrests and 71 search warrants in multiple countries. A breakthrough in cracking Ghost came from the AFP’s technical branch [8], which developed a world-first solution to infiltrate the app [8]. Up to 50 Australian offenders using Ghost are facing serious charges for drug trafficking [3] [4] [5], money laundering [3] [5] [6] [8], and violence [3] [5]. The successful infiltration of Ghost through a supply chain attack in 2024 resulted in further arrests and seizures, with ongoing investigations expected to yield more arrests in the future. Commander Paula Hudson led Operation Kraken, which exposed a criminal syndicate that fabricated a false terrorism plot [8]. The evidence collected from the raids will undergo forensic analysis to further investigate the criminal activities associated with the Ghost platform [8]. The operation involved 700 officers across four Australian states [3] [7], resulting in the arrest of 50 offenders [7] [8]. The app was allegedly used by various criminal groups [7], including Italian [2] [7], outlaw motorcycle gangs [2] [7], Middle Eastern [3] [7], and Korean organised crime [3] [7]. The mastermind behind Ghost [1] [2] [7], Jay Ye Yoon Jung [3] [7] [8], was arrested and faces multiple charges [2] [4] [7]. The operation prevented 50 threats to kill or harm individuals in Australia [7]. International partners joined forces to dismantle the platform [7], with raids in Italy [7], Sweden [3] [5] [7], Ireland [3] [4] [5] [7], and Canada [3] [5] [7]. More arrests are expected as investigations into Ghost’s global network continue [7]. The alleged mastermind behind Ghost [1] [2] [5] [7], a 32-year-old creator and administrator [2], was arrested in Sydney and faces charges of supporting a criminal organization [2]. Police allege that Ghost was used by various criminal networks [2], including Italian organized crime and outlaw motorcycle gangs [2], to import drugs and order killings [2] [3]. The AFP infiltrated Ghost by modifying the app’s software updates [2], allowing them to access its content [2]. The operation also resulted in the seizure of drugs [2], firearms [2] [8], and money [2] [8], with more arrests expected in the future [2]. Europol Executive Director Catherine De Bolle praised the success of the operation [2], emphasizing that criminal networks cannot evade law enforcement efforts [2]. In a related development, a WA man has been arrested in a major federal police operation targeting the Ghost app [6], used by organised crime networks for drug trafficking [6], money laundering [3] [5] [6] [8], and ordering killings [2] [3] [6]. The Australian Federal Police has restrained $2 million in Perth property and taken several dozen people into custody in raids across the country [6].
Conclusion
The successful dismantling of the global criminal syndicate through Operation Kraken has had significant impacts on criminal activities associated with the Ghost platform. With ongoing investigations and more arrests expected in the future, law enforcement efforts continue to disrupt and prevent criminal networks from evading justice. The collaboration between international law enforcement agencies has proven effective in tackling transnational organized crime, highlighting the importance of global cooperation in combating criminal activities.
References
[1] https://www.csoonline.com/article/3529140/australian-cops-bust-underworld-app-through-compromised-software-updates.html
[2] https://efe.com/en/science-and-technology/2024-09-18/australian-police-arrest-dozens-after-infiltrating-ghost-app-of-criminal-underworld/
[3] https://australiancybersecuritymagazine.com.au/sydney-man-behind-ghost-encrypted-communications-network/
[4] https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/europol-disrupts-ghost-criminal/
[5] https://www.afp.gov.au/news-centre/media-release/afp-operation-kraken-charges-alleged-head-global-organised-crime-app
[6] https://thewest.com.au/news/crime/operation-kraken-heathridge-man-among-those-charged-as-part-of-afp-probe-into-secret-app-c-16097911
[7] https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/09/18/australian-police-infiltrate-secret-app-used-by-criminals/
[8] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-17/afp-raids-ghost-app-founder-charged-proceeds-crime/104362678
