Australian police have arrested a 32-year-old man for allegedly developing and managing an encrypted messaging app used by organized crime syndicates worldwide for drug and firearms trafficking, money laundering, and coordinating killings.
Jay Je Yoon Jung appeared in a Sydney court on Wednesday, facing charges linked to the creation of the Ghost messaging platform, which authorities claim was “built solely for the criminal underworld.” He is charged with five offenses, including supporting a criminal organization and profiting from criminal proceeds.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) stated that Jung sold modified smartphones for 2,350 Australian dollars ($1,600) each, which included a six-month subscription to the network and tech support.
Launched in 2017, Ghost was reportedly used by “hundreds of criminals” in countries such as Italy, the Middle East, South Korea, and Australia, according to the AFP.
In recent days, police arrested 38 suspects across Australia, with coordinated raids taking place in Ireland, Italy, Sweden, and Canada. Up to 50 individuals in Australia who allegedly used Ghost are now facing charges.
The AFP Deputy Commissioner Ian McCartney announced that Operation Kraken had seized 25 illegal weapons, disrupted 50 threats against individuals, and blocked the importation of over 200 kg of illegal drugs.
“Dismantling encrypted communication systems requires significant expertise,” McCartney said. “But the ultimate goal is always penetrating criminal platforms to obtain evidence – an area where the AFP excels globally.”
Colonel Florian Manet, head of France’s Home Affairs Ministry National Cyber Command Technical Department, stated that his team had provided “technical resources” to assist their Australian counterparts in infiltrating the network.
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