Australian Police Accuse A Man Of Masterminding Global Crime Applications

JAKARTA - Australian police on Wednesday 18 September accused a man of creating and managing a messaging app used by a global organized crime network, in the first case of its kind in the country.

The 32-year-old was arrested by federal police in West Sydney on Tuesday, September 17. He appeared in court on Wednesday on charges of five offenses related to the management of the Ghost messaging platform which police say are being used by several gangs and organized crime syndicates in the Middle East, Australia, and South Korea to import drugs and order murder.

"Dismantling encrypted communication devices dedicated requires significant skills," said Australia's Deputy Federal Police Commissioner, Ian McCartney. "However, the main goal is always to penetrate criminal platforms to access evidence."

"This is the first time someone based in Australia has been accused of creating and running a global criminal platform," he said.

Police carried out two-day raids in four Australian states and territories this month, with related searches also being carried out in Ireland, Italy, Sweden, and Canada.

Up to 50 suspected Australian perpetrators suspected of using Ghost are also facing charges, including significant prison sentences, with more arrests in Australia and overseas that are likely to occur in the coming days.

Police said they managed to prevent serious deaths or injuries to 50 individuals in Australia as a result of the break-in of the Ghost encryption.