Australian Federal Police are raiding homes across four states and overseas operations loom as a major crime network is busted.
Federal officers were “undertaking a significant operation across NSW, Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia”, the AFP said overnight.
It’s understood the bust revolves around an encrypted phone network called “Ghost” that has been used by underworld members to communicate in secret.
A 32-year-old Sydney man was arrested yesterday at his parent’s home, accused of being the mastermind behind Ghost.
“Operation Kraken is targeting alleged organised criminals accused of using a secret platform to import illicit drugs and plan other serious crimes in Australia and around the globe,” the AFP said.
Senior police are expected to address the media in Sydney this morning.
The AFP said there was “no current or impending threat to the community”.
The AFP claims the accused Ghost mastermind was 23 when he launched the network and began building encrypted advices that prevent messages from being intercepted by authorities, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.
The newspaper says dedicated encrypted communications devices (DECDs) are “a cut above” regular encrypted platforms like WhatsApp and Signal.
The mastermind allegedly sold his DECDs for about $2350, using a network that vetted new Ghost users before they were allowed into the system.
The Sydney Morning Herald said there were more than 600 active Ghost phones around the world, including about 400 in Australia.
Authorities are also investigating Ghost phones in Italy, Sweden, Ireland and Canada.
FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, celebrity and sport via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.
