An Garda Síochána working with Europol and Eurojust, together with law enforcement and judicial authorities from around the world, announced today, Wednesday, September 18, that they have successfully dismantled an encrypted communication platform that was established for facilitating serious and organized crime perpetrated by dangerous criminal networks operating on a global scale.
The platform, known as Ghost, was used to facilitate a wide range of criminal activities, including large-scale drug trafficking, money laundering, instances of extreme violence, and other forms of serious and organized crime, An Garda Síochána said on Wednesday.
Ghost had gained traction among criminal organizations due to its advanced security features. Users could purchase the solution without any personal information. The solution used three encryption standards and offered the option to send a message followed by a specific code that results in self-destruction of all messages on the target phone. This allowed criminal networks to communicate securely, evade detection, counter forensic measures, and coordinate their illegal operations across borders.
Worldwide, several thousands of individuals used the tool, which has its own infrastructure and applications with a network of resellers based in several countries. On a global scale, around a thousand messages are being exchanged each day via Ghost.
In Ireland, An Garda Síochána's National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau has been coordinating investigations related to the Ghost ECC platform with regard to four identified organized crime groups (OCGs) and support networks based and operating in the Dublin and Eastern Region, involved in drug trafficking and money laundering on a significant scale and activities facilitating and enhancing the capabilities of OCGs.
On Monday, September 16, as part of this International investigation, a coordinated International Law Enforcement day of action was carried out.
You can watch a clip of Monday's operational briefing here:
In Ireland, An Garda Síochána searched 27 premises across counties in the Dublin and Eastern Regions.
Over 300 Gardaí were deployed on searches on Monday evening led by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and involving Gardaí from Organised and Serious Crime (Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau, Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Garda National Economic Crime Bureau) The Criminal Assets Bureau, Strategic Tactical Operational Command (Emergency Response Unit and Regional Armed Supports Units), Garda Headquarters (National Surveillance Unit, National Criminal Intelligence Unit), National Support Services (Garda Dog Unit, Garda Air Support Unit), and Divisional Resources from the Dublin and Eastern Region and National Public Order Unit.
Representatives from Europol, Australian Federal Police, and Federal Bureau of Investigation were also in Ireland in support of the ongoing operation.
During these searches, investigating Gardaí seized:
- €300,000 in cash
- 2 cryptocurrency keys (contents under investigation)
- 42 suspected Ghost ECC encrypted devices
- 126 other mobile devices
- 27 laptops
- 200 plus SIM cards
- 6 Rolex Watches
- 1 x 2021 Range Rover Jeep
September 16, 2024: Cash recovered by An Garda Síochána during the day of action. (An Garda Síochána)
Recovery of cocaine haul
In addition on Monday, officers attached to the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau intercepted an articulated truck in the South East of the Country. Following a search of the truck, Gardaí recovered 100 kilos of cocaine in a deep concealment.
The cocaine is valued in Ireland at €7,000,000, subject to analysis by FSI.
You can watch a clip of the recovery of the concealed drugs here:
Arrests
Five males have been arrested (aged in their 30s, 40s, and 50s) and detained at Garda Stations in the Dublin and Eastern Region. Four have been detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1997 as amended and one is detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007.
Gardaí have charged four males who were arrested on Monday following the seizure of 100 kilos of cocaine by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) in the South East of the country.
The four males are due to appear at Gorey District Court on Wednesday afternoon. A fifth man remains detained.
Previous Garda activity, directly related to this investigation into Ghost ECC involved:
- 6 premises searches
- 6 persons arrested
- 118 Kilos of Cocaine valued in Ireland at €8,260,000
- 1.5 Kilos Heroin valued in Ireland at €100,000
- 16 Kilos of Cannabis valued in Ireland at €320,000
- €50,000 in cash seized
Garda Investigations remain ongoing at this time.
Speaking at Europol Headquarters, The Hague, Assistant Commissioner Justin Kelly, Organised and Serious Crime said: "An Garda Síochána's involvement in this Europol Operational Task Force demonstrates Ireland's ongoing commitment and capacity to operate at an international level targeting Transnational Organised Crime Groups which cause so much harm and misery not just in Ireland but in countries across the world.
“Transnational Organised Crime Group networks know no boundaries and do not respect any international borders or rules of law. It takes a network to defeat a network and today's announcement is clear indication of the power of Law Enforcement networks in degrading and dismantling the activities of these criminal networks.”
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