<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>329271</docID> <postdate>2024-09-18 10:32:49</postdate> <headline>Murders, drug deals stopped as police hack ‘secret’ app</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-329272" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240221001905691068-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>Police believe they thwarted 50 deaths or serious injuries by infiltrating communications networks. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Jack Gramenz</strong> in Sydney</span></p> <p><strong>The accused creator of a secret app used by networks of organised criminals has been arrested after encrypted phones were allegedly used to plot murders and drug trafficking.</strong></p> <p>Dozens of people have been taken into custody following days of raids targeting users of the Ghost app.</p> <p>The bulk of the arrests were in NSW, but alleged criminals in Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and the ACT were also caught in the net.</p> <p>Some 700 Australian Federal Police members were involved in the operation, which also involved an international task force targeting offshore links.</p> <p>Thirty-eight people were arrested across the nation, with more people expected to be charged on Wednesday.</p> <p>The police operation also prevented 50 deaths or serious injuries through infiltration of the communications networks, AFP officials said.</p> <p>The raids, which stemmed from a tip-off from French authorities in 2021, also took down a global encrypted communications network, investigators said.</p> <p>A 32-year-old man, who police allege created and maintained the network, was arrested at a home in Sydney's south and is due to face court on Wednesday.</p> <p>He has been charged with numerous offences, including supporting a criminal organisation and dealing with the suspected proceeds of crime.</p> <p>He allegedly distributed modified smartphones for about $2350, which paid for a six-month subscription to the encrypted network and tech support.</p> <p>The man lived with his parents and did not have a criminal history, police said.</p> <p>There were about 376 of the handsets active around the nation when he was arrested on Tuesday, the AFP said.</p> <p>Authorities modified software updates sent to the devices, allowing investigators to monitor communications.</p> <p>Encrypted communication networks, including some reliant on dedicated devices, have become a focus for law enforcement targeting transnational organised crime.</p> <p>The AFP and the FBI previously ran a purportedly secure communications platform, ANOM, which criminals used to discuss murder plots, drug and weapons deals in the belief that their messages were secret.</p> <p>It was exposed as being part of a law enforcement operation in 2021.</p> <p>AFP deputy commissioner Ian McCartney said the latest operation established the agency as a world leader in cracking communication networks.</p> <p>"Taking down dedicated encrypted communication devices takes significant skill," he said.</p> <p>"But the holy grail is always penetrating criminal platforms."</p> </body>