800 organized criminals trapped using messaging App
More than 800 organized criminals from 18 countries have been arrested on suspicion of being involved in organized crime around the world to trap through an encrypted messaging app operated by the FBI. Among them 49 are from the Netherlands and 35 from New Zealand; 135 suspected criminals from Sweden and Germany. Australian police have arrested at least 200 criminals by trapping an encrypted messaging app called 'Anon'.
Together with the Australian police, this virtual operation called 'Trojan Shield' was conducted by the European police and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). It involved 4,000 police in Australia and 9,000 police around the world.
Apart from arresting the culprits, 148 million dollars in cash and 3,000 kg of drugs were also seized in the operation.
In addition to being involved in drug smuggling, police have arrested 224 people, including members of an illegal motorcycle gang, through the app.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reese Witherspoon said that the plan was taken in 2016, more than 300 criminal gangs from more than 100 countries have used about 12,000 devices with the app.
Speaking at a similar news conference in Sydney on Tuesday, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the operation was a turning point in the history of Australian law enforcement, as well as a major blow to organized crime around the world.
It was informed at the press conference that a total of 525 criminal charges have been brought against this gang. At the same time, more crimes may come up in the coming weeks.
