As a seasoned analyst with extensive experience in digital forensics and cybercrime investigations, I find this development to be a significant stride in the ongoing battle against organized crime. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and their Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce have demonstrated yet again that they are not only tech-savvy but also relentless in their pursuit of justice.
The Australian Federal Police’s Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce successfully accessed a “seed phrase” associated with an account attributed to the suspected developer of the encrypted messaging app “Ghost.” Law enforcement officials allege that this app has been utilized in illegal activities by criminal organizations.
Based on an AFP press statement, the Australian investigative team successfully retrieved approximately 6.4 million US dollars from a suspect’s cryptocurrency account after examining digital gadgets seized from a New South Wales resident who is believed to have orchestrated “Ghost”.
Ghost refers to a secure communication system, allegedly used by some criminal organizations according to authorities.
According to the AFP, they have confined the cryptocurrency assets in the account linked to the creator of Ghost, under the Commonwealth Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. These assets will then be utilized to finance various law enforcement projects.
Once the assets have been seized, they will be transferred into the Confiscated Assets Account. This account is overseen by the Australian Financial Security Authority for the benefit of the Commonwealth government.
In a statement, Commander Scott Raven of the AFP stated that discovering 6.4 million dollars in the suspected Ghost maker’s bank account demonstrates that the AFP and CACT possess the technological expertise needed to confront criminal organizations attempting to conceal their illicit earnings.
Raven stated, ‘Regardless if you’ve concealed them in property, digital currencies, or cold hard cash, we’ll uncover your illegally obtained assets and seize them, leaving you with absolutely nothing.’
The recent finding represents the newest advancement in our ongoing probe by AFP concerning criminal organizations associated with the suspected creator of the Ghost app and their network, which we also refer to as Operation Kraken.
Australian authorities have confiscated assets for a second time, this time linked to the Ghost app, following the seizure of approximately $1.4 million in cryptocurrency and properties back in August.
To date, Operation Kraken has led to the restriction of approximately 11.09 million Australian dollars (or about 8.2 million US dollars) worth of assets, made 46 arrests, interceded in 50 potential life-threatening or harmful situations, and prevented over 200 kilograms of illegal drugs from entering Australia.
The individual, aged 32, is reportedly the orchestrator of a criminal organization that operated primarily through the Ghost app. On September 17, he was taken into custody and indicted for five crimes, among which are charges related to assisting a criminal group.
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2024-10-02 12:08