In a major global crackdown, an international law enforcement agency has dismantled "Ghost," an encrypted communication platform used by organised crime groups for drug trafficking and money laundering.
View WhitepaperIn a major global crackdown, an international law enforcement agency has dismantled "Ghost," an encrypted communication platform used by organised crime groups for drug trafficking and money laundering. The operation resulted in 51 arrests across multiple countries, with more expected to follow.
Ghost was known for its advanced security features, providing a lifeline for criminals to evade detection. Authorities seized over €1 million, dismantled a drug lab in Australia, and confiscated weapons and drugs.
The operation had a three-year long international police investigation into the messaging platform, which resulted in multiple police raids and arrests made against users of the messaging platform that were involved in organised crime. 38 were arrested in Australia, 11 arrested in Ireland, and 1 user in both Canada and Italy respectively.
One of the users who is rumoured to be the admin of the messaging platform Ghost, was arrested among the 38 in Australia and was charged with 5 different offences, such as supporting criminal organisations and even dealing information in order to commit fraud.
During a press conference organised by Europol, Eurojust, and law enforcement agencies from nine countries participating in the Ghost investigation including France, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United States. Investigators gave an overview of the operation and explained the methods used.
Ghost provided encrypted, private messaging that appealed to criminals seeking to avoid surveillance. Its security features, like end-to-end encryption, allowed illicit activities such as drug trafficking and money laundering to go undetected for years.
End-to-end encryption is good practice within businesses and isn’t always used as a tool to commit cyber crime like it is on Ghost and other similar platforms. It is a powerful tool that ensures data privacy by making sure that only the sender and recipient can access the contents of a message or file. This level of security is particularly beneficial for industries that handle sensitive information, such as healthcare, finance, and legal sectors.
End-to-end encryption ensures that messages and files cannot be intercepted or tampered with by third parties, including hackers or even service providers. This is crucial in sectors where confidentiality is apriority, such as financial institutions or healthcare organisations. Sensitive information like payment details, personal data, and health records are kept secure and inaccessible to unauthorised users.
By encrypting data in transit and at rest, end-to-end encryption reduces the likelihood of data breaches. Even if attackers gain access to the system, the encrypted data would be unreadable. This added security layer can save companies from reputational damage and financial losses caused by data breaches.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) mandates strict protection of personal data for EU citizens. End-to-end encryption can help businesses comply with GDPR by ensuring that personal data is secure and not exposed to unauthorised access. Since GDPR emphasises data protection by design, using end-to-end encryption demonstrates that a company has implemented strong measures to safeguard user data.
The dismantling of Ghost sends a strong message: no matter how sophisticated the technology criminals use, co-ordinated international efforts can breakthrough these barriers. Europol have demonstrated that encrypted platforms are not entirely beyond reach, and this success disrupts the operations of serious crime networks worldwide.
While Ghost’s takedown is a major victory, Europol warns that criminal groups will continue to evolve and seek out new ways to communicate and operate. Businesses and individuals must remain vigilant against encrypted platforms that enable illegal activities. Governments and tech companies are increasingly working together to identify and dismantle these platforms before they become entrenched.
