An international law enforcement operation has dealt a significant blow to organised crime, leading to the seizure of €16 million worth of drugs and the arrest of 11 individuals in Ireland. The operation, which involved the infiltration of the encrypted communication tool ‘Ghost’, targeted criminal networks worldwide, including major gangs in Ireland.
Ghost, a highly secure platform used by criminals to orchestrate activities such as drug trafficking, money laundering, and violent crime, was dismantled by Europol in collaboration with nine countries, including Ireland. Described as “a lifeline” for serious organised crime, the platform’s breach has exposed extensive illegal operations.
Massive Raid and Seizures in Ireland
An Garda Síochána, working in partnership with Europol, the FBI, and Australian Federal Police, launched coordinated raids across 27 locations in Dublin and other counties in eastern Ireland on Monday. The raids involved 300 Gardaí, resulting in the seizure of €15 million worth of cocaine, €230,000 of cannabis, €100,000 of heroin, and €350,000 in cash. Additionally, 42 Ghost-encrypted devices, 27 laptops, and 126 mobile phones were confiscated.
Assistant Commissioner Justin Kelly highlighted Ireland’s key role in the investigation, revealing that the country had the second-highest number of active Ghost devices globally, accounting for around 8.3% of the total users. “While we cannot confirm specific criminal organisations, there are extremely high-value targets in Ireland that were using Ghost,” he said.
Organised Crime Fragmented in Ireland
While the notorious Kinahan cartel has long dominated headlines, Detective Chief Superintendent Séamus Boland revealed that the organised crime landscape in Ireland is now more fragmented. “The Kinahan cartel is no longer the primary organised crime gang in this jurisdiction,” he said. He explained that four major crime groups, previously thought to be linked to the Kinahans, were now operating independently, with a focus on cocaine and heroin trafficking.
Boland further noted the increasing involvement of cryptocurrency in these criminal activities, stating, “Crypto is a known method used by organised crime groups to move their proceeds.” He also pointed to a network of facilitators in Ireland who were helping maintain and distribute Ghost devices to criminals.
Global Collaboration, Local Impact
Europol’s executive director, Catherine De Bolle, hailed the operation as a victory against criminal networks. “Today we have made it clear that no matter how hidden criminal networks think they are, they can’t evade our collective effort.” The agency’s deputy executive director, Jean-Philippe Lecouffe, described the operation as “a global game of cat and mouse,” adding, “today, the game is up.”
The infiltration of Ghost is being viewed as a significant breakthrough in the fight against organised crime, with further arrests and prosecutions expected in the coming months. “We’re targeting decision-makers and facilitators, and we are determined to bring them to justice,” Boland vowed.
High-Value Targets in the Crosshairs
Law enforcement officials have indicated that the operation is just the beginning, as they continue to pursue high-level criminal figures connected to Ghost. “If you’re using one of these devices, you’re working at a very high level in organised crime. You are a target of our investigations,” Boland warned.
The international operation has not only struck a blow to Ireland’s criminal underworld but has sent a message to criminal organisations worldwide. With global cooperation and cutting-edge technology, authorities are determined to disrupt even the most sophisticated networks.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities are optimistic that their efforts will lead to the dismantling of more crime syndicates, sending shockwaves through the global underworld.