A fake encrypted messaging app cooked up over beers by Australian cops and the FBI has led to 800 arrests across the world and the confiscation of £100 million in cash, 6 tons of cocaine, assault rifles, luxury cars, motorcycles and watches.
A huge overnight bust in Australia saw 4,000 officers storm the underworld after gangsters were monitored for 18 months using the app called 'AN0M,' which has also been deployed by police in the US and Britain.
Secretly developed by the FBI, the crooks thought the app meant they were safe from the law. But it was actually a Trojan Horse, re-routing all their secret messages to FBI special agents and the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
The app was seeded into the underworld by police informants before it was picked up by drug kingpins who unwittingly acted like 'influencers' - the jewel in the crown was Australia's most wanted man, Hakan Ayik, who became the 'principal distributor,' giving the app legitimacy to global crime syndicates.
There were more than 12,000 compromised AN0M phones, used by more than 300 crime gangs in over 100 countries, which blind copied - or 'BBCed'- the police on around 27 million secret messages.
FBI chief Calvin Shivers called the results of the global cooperation 'staggering.' 'Over the last 18 months the FBI provided over 300 criminal organisations, in over 100 countries, with encrypted devices that allowed us to monitor their communications,' Shivers told told reporters at Europol's HQ in The Hague.
'Not only have we heard about the number of arrests and the number of seizures, but over 100 threats to life that were mitigated,' added Shivers.
The UK National Crime Agency said it had carried out 'multiple operations' as a result of the sting, codenamed Operation Trojan Shield. 'As part of this, the NCA has conducted multiple operations targeting organised crime groups involved in drug trafficking and money laundering,' said an NCA spokeswoman. 'This operation has demonstrated that, in the face of the rapidly evolving threat from criminals exploiting the fast expansion of technology, the NCA is committed to working across international borders to target organised criminals.'
The NCA did not reveal further details of the operations or the estimated number of AN0M users in Britain.
In Australia alone, more than 200 people have been charged as part of the operation, which Prime Minister Scott Morrison said had 'struck a heavy blow against organised crime - not just in this country, but one that will echo around organised crime around the world'.
Through the covert operation, detectives in Australia uncovered 21 murder plots, gunrunning and drug trafficking, with mafia bosses, biker gangsters, and reality TV stars arrested and charged.
McLaren and Lamborghini sports cars, Ducati and Harley-Davidson motorcycles, Rolex watches, sniper rifles, bullet-proof vests, ammunition and even memorabilia from the Hollywood classic The Godfather were seized from safe houses.
Suspects in handcuffs are watched over by special police forces officers after sweeping raids by the Australian Federal Police last night stunned the world's criminal gangs
Ninja Warrior 2017 contestant Sopiea Kong (left) was arrested at her home where police allegedly seized 154g of meth (left), and seized in a separate bust are handguns and packets of ammunition (right)
A McLaren sports car seized by Australian police during raids which swept across the country as part of Operation Ironside. An entry level new McLaren costs more than £135,000
Luxury Ducati and Harley Davidson motorcycles are hauled away by police officers after they raided hundreds of suspects last night. A new Ducati costs north of £18,000, while a Harley-Davidson will set you back more than £12,000
A high-powered sniper rifle taken in the sting which saw dozens of weapons, ammunition and bullet-proof vests seized
Ammunition, magazines, bullet proof-vests (left) and rifles (right) were among the items seized in the massive bust
A Lamborghini sports car seized by cops in New South Wales as part of the sting launched in Australia and across the world. The cars start from around £180,000 new, rising into the millions for more premium models and specifications
Narcotics seized in the sting last night by Australian Federal Police. A total of 3.77 tonnes of drugs were taken off the streets in the raid
The bust exposed new details about how one of Australia's most wanted fugitives gave police extensive access to the world's criminal underworld
Among the items seized by the AFP was memorabilia from the 1972 cult classic The Godfather
Australia's biggest ever police bust has seen 3.77 tonnes of drugs, $45 million in cash, guns, luxury cars, motorcycles and watches pictured) seized
But the Daily Mail can reveal the entire elaborate sting was placed in jeopardy in late March, when an anonymous tech geek sounded the alarm, labelling the platform a 'scam' which rerouted peoples' data through to the United States.
The anonymous blogger known only as 'canyouguess67' posted an article warning users to keep off ANOM for their 'own safety', Daily Mail Australia can reveal.
'STAY AWAY FROM ANOM IF YOU VALUE YOUR PRIVACY AND SAFETY,' the blogger wrote in an article, which has since been pulled down.
'THEY ARE COMPROMISED, LIARS AND YOUR DATA IS RUNNING VIA USA'. The hacker added that law enforcement agencies had been tipped off.
However, it seems few alleged criminals in the sights of law enforcement did a cursory Google search into the 'encrypted' phone and app platform.
The AFP announced on Tuesday said that it had seized 3.7 tonnes of drugs, 104 weapons and almost $45million in cash as part of the operation - which was three years in the making.
The alleged offenders are linked to the Australian-based Italian mafia - known as the Ndrangheta - as well as outlaw motorcycle gangs, Asian crime syndicates and Albanian organised crime figures.
Police have charged 224 alleged offenders with 525 charges, shut down six clandestine laboratories and acted on 21 threats to kill, including saving a family of five.
Prime Minister Morrison said the AFP operation, known as Operation Ironside, had struck a 'heavy blow' against organised crime.
'The operation puts Australia at the forefront of the fight against criminals who peddle in human misery and ultimately, it will keep our communities and Australians safe,' he said on Tuesday.
'Illicit drug use ruins lives and fuels organised crime.'
AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said federal agents had been in the 'back pockets' of criminals through the encryption app.
'The FBI had the lead on this. We provided the technical capability to decrypt those messages,' he said.
'Some of the best ideas come over a couple of beers.'
Ninja Warrior 2017 contestant Sopiea Kong was among those arrested. The 33-year-old was charged last week following a raid at a Kangaroo Point home, where police allegedly seized 154g of meth.
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