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HomeCRIME & PUNISHMENTCYBERCRIMEOperation Kraken: AFP Continues to Dismantle Criminal Underworld on Organised Crime App...

Operation Kraken: AFP Continues to Dismantle Criminal Underworld on Organised Crime App Ghost

The AFP’s investigation into the Ghost encrypted app continues to disrupt the criminal underworld, with more than 50 alleged criminals now charged and nearly $25 million in assets restrained.

Ongoing AFP inquiries and digital analysis of seized Ghost devices and other digital material since the global takedown of the app in September have led to 14 more people being charged, joining the 38 initially put before the courts. It has also seized additional tainted assets, including cash, cryptocurrency and luxury items.

In September 2024, the AFP and international law enforcement partners executed coordinated police operations in four countries to dismantle the app and charge alleged criminals believed to be trafficking illicit drugs, laundering money, ordering killings or threatening serious violence.

In Australia, the takedown led to the arrest in Sydney of the alleged mastermind behind the app, with 38 people charged and 71 search warrants executed across four states over two days.

Since then, the AFP’s ongoing investigations have led to the alleged administrator being charged with drug trafficking offences and $9.3 million in cryptocurrency linked to the man being restrained. The alleged administrator has been remanded in custody since his arrest on 17 September.

In November, the AFP charged two Melbourne men with alleged links to Italian organised crime after digital forensic analysis of their devices allegedly uncovered evidence of the pair being involved in drug trafficking operations.

In October, the AFP added extra charges to a Sydney man, 47, after analysing eight mobile phones, three laptops, and 15 other communication devices and encrypted USBs allegedly revealed he was a distributor of Ghost devices.

The latest results from Operation Kraken include 52 people charged, 96 search warrants conducted, intervening in 50 threats to life/threats to harm, preventing 230kg of illicit drugs from harming the Australian community, seizing 29 illicit firearms/weapons, $3.4m in cash seized and $24.37m in assets restrained.

AFP Commander Paula Hudson said police had seized 213 mobile phones and 38 dedicated encrypted communications devices due to executing nearly 100 search warrants linked to Operation Kraken.

“Nearly 400 Ghost devices were operated in Australia and sent 162,000 messages over the lifetime of the app, so this digital treasure trove of material will continue to yield important information about alleged criminal activity conducted in this country,” Hudson said. “The resolution of Operation Kraken in September was the culmination of the AFP’s largest criminal investigation in 2024, but the work of investigators will continue through 2025 as we piece together the full scale of criminality taking place over the Ghost app.”

State breakdown of Operation Kraken results (figures include AFP and state police operations):

NSW

  • 23 people charged
  • 44 search warrants executed
  • 38 threats to life prevented

Victoria

  • 15 people charged
  • 25 search warrants executed
  • 4 threats to life prevented

South Australia

  • 2 people charged
  • 9 search warrants executed
  • 2 threats to life prevented

Western Australia

  • 12 people charged
  • 19 search warrants executed
  • 6 threats to life prevented
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