Operation Kraken: Further charges against the alleged mastermind of the criminal messaging app

Operation Kraken: Further charges filed against suspected mastermind of criminal messaging app

New South Wales man faces six additional charges over his role in the development and management of the Ghost organized crime network.

A 32-year-old man from Narwee has been charged with six further offenses in connection with running a global criminal messaging network based on customized smartphones.

The man was arrested last month (pictured) on September 17 by the Australian Federal Police as part of Operation Kraken, an operation across Australia targeting a number of organized crime operations after APF officers searched for a Note from Europol that the messaging app had been infiltrated in 2022.

Additional police operations related to the destruction of the Ghost network took place in Ireland, Italy, Sweden and Canada.

The new charges were laid at an appearance in Downing Center Local Court last week on October 11.

The new fees are:

• One count of trafficking in proceeds of general crime (more than $1 million)
• One count of conspiracy to traffic in a commercial quantity of a controlled drug (cocaine)
• One count of conspiracy to traffic in a commercial quantity of a controlled drug (MDMA).
• One case involves dealing with money or property that is, and the person believes to be, the proceeds of a criminal offense valued at $50,000 or more
• One count of possession of a dedicated encrypted communications device to commit serious criminal activity; And
• One count of breach of a requirement in an order under section 3LA.

When he was first arrested, the man was accused of five crimes in connection with the operation of the ghost network, including supporting a criminal organization. The man is currently facing life in prison for at least one of the charges.

“We allege that hundreds of criminals, including Italian organized criminals, members of outlaw motorcycle gangs, Middle Eastern organized crime and Korean organized crime, have used Ghost in Australia and abroad to import illegal drugs and order killings,” AFP said -Deputy Commissioner Ian McCartney issued a statement after the first arrest.

“I would like to thank all AFP members who were involved in this operation – from investigators to intelligence officers to technology experts and all other support staff.”

Operation Kraken has resulted in 48 arrests across the country to date.