Operation Ironside: AFP, FBI take down mafia, bikie members in ‘sting of the century’

Operation Ironside: AFP, FBI take down mafia, bikie members in ‘sting of the century’

Dramatic footage has shown the arrests of hundreds of Australians in what’s been dubbed the “sting of the century”.
Natalie Wolfe and Natalie Brown



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The AFP has carried out “the sting of the century”. Picture: Victoria PoliceSource:Supplied


Police have revealed new details of what’s been dubbed the “sting of the century”, including dramatic footage and images of the exact moment they nabbed dozens of suspects as part of a global operation to bring down terrorist groups, mafia organisations and outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Operation Ironside was formed three years ago as a collaboration between the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to bring down underworld figures.

Victoria Police carried out warrants in 52 suburbs. In a statement, officers said the murders of Muhamed Yucel in Keysborough in 2017; Zabi Ezedeyer in Narre Warren in 2017 and Ikenasio Tuivasa in Ravenhall earlier this year had also been potentially linked to persons or information in the operation.
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Victoria Police carried out warrants on Monday in 52 suburbs. Picture: Victoria PoliceSource:Supplied

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At least three murders have been linked to persons or information in the operation. Picture: Victoria PoliceSource:Supplied

‘Significant quantities’ of drugs found in NSW
In NSW, investigators executed 33 search warrants, arrested 35 people and seized 27 firearms, more than $800,000 in cash, luxury vehicles worth $1.5 million and “significant quantities” of prohibited drugs – including MDMA, cocaine, ice and cannabis – during the state-based arm of Operation Ironside, police said in a statement.

Officers sized 27 firearms – including two Glock pistols and a 50-calibre sniper rifle – as well as luxury vehicles including a Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren and Bentley.
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Investigators executed 33 search warrants, arrested 35 people and seized “significant quantities” of prohibited drugs. Picture: NSW PoliceSource:Supplied

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Operation Ironside has been dubbed “the sting of the century”. Picture: NSW PoliceSource:Supplied

Sting ‘a heavy blow against organised crime’
Earlier today, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Australian Government “has struck a heavy blow against organised crime — not just in this country, but one that will echo around organised crime around the world”.

“This is a watershed moment in Australian law enforcement history … Everything we’ve been doing has been to keep Australians safe,” he told reporters.

Hundreds of alleged offenders were tricked into communicating via AN0M, an encrypted app designed by police.

The app also helped police stop a mass shooting of a family of five, orchestrated by organised crime.


“That particular case will come out later on where they planned on using a machine gun and potentially at a cafe where people would have been no doubt harmed,” AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said.

“We were able to, with the co-operation of that particular state police force, take out that individual before they were able to do that.”

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More than $800,000 in cash was seized by police in NSW. Picture: NSW PoliceSource:Supplied

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Luxury vehicles were also seized in the warrants. Picture: NSW PoliceSource:Supplied

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The AFP said it had busted 21 murder plots in the operation. Source: NSW Police,Source:Supplied

Mr Kershaw said the person planning the mass shooting had been arrested some time ago, however other people allegedly involved were still being investigated.

More than 220 members of Australia’s underworld were arrested as part of the nation’s largest ever crime sting after they were allegedly caught using the app to plan executions, drug imports and launder money.

Hundreds more were nabbed by police in Europe and the US as authorities conducted sweeping raids across the globe.

The AFP said it had busted 21 murder plots, stopped more than 3000kg of drugs from hitting the streets and seized $35 million in cash.
Mr Kershaw said the organisation had inflicted “maximum damage to serious organised crime”.

“With devastating consequences to those who seek to do harm to Australians and Australia’s interests, and today, Australia is a safer country because of this unprecedented AFP-led operation,” Mr Kershaw added.
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Victoria Police footage of an arrest at Thornhill Park. Picture: Victoria Police via NCA NewsWireSource:Supplied

More than 4000 law enforcement officers were involved in executing 525 search warrants across Australia.
“Ironside has arrested and charged who we allege are some of the most dangerous criminals to Australia,” Mr Kershaw said.
“We allege they are members of outlaw motorcycle gangs, Australian Mafia, Asian crime syndicates and serious and organised crime groups.

“We allege they’ve been trafficking illicit drugs into Australia at an industrial scale.
“Sadly, criminal gangs are targeting Australia because it is one of the most profitable countries in the world to sell drugs, and for three years, this operation has been covert.
“Australian law enforcement has been arresting and charging alleged offenders and we have prevented tonnes of drugs from coming onshore.”

Mr Kershaw said the sting had resulted in the arrest of dozens of alleged “kingmakers”.
“We have prevented mass shootings in suburbs and frustrated serious and organised crime by seizing their ill-gotten wealth.

“As of today, we have charged 224 alleged offenders, including 525 charges laid.
“Shut down six clandestine laboratories and acted on 21 threats to kill, including saving a family of five … seized 104 firearms and weapons and almost $45 million in cash.
“These figures are likely to increase over the coming days.

“Collectively, these alleged offenders are facing jail terms that could run into hundreds of years and some of the charges they are facing carry life imprisonment.”
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AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said the sting had resulted in the arrest of dozens of alleged “kingmakers”. Picture: Victoria PoliceSource:Supplied

Mr Kershaw said while the FBI had the lead on the investigation, the AFP provided the “technical capability to be able to decrypt the messages”.

Despite the investigation running for years, and arrests being made intermittently, Mr Kershaw said the alleged criminals had no idea they were being targeted.
“Let me be clear. When you get access and it will come out in court, you’ll see that all they talk about is drugs, violence, hits on each other, innocent people who are going to be murdered,” he said.

“(The texts) would be like, ‘I need 1000 kilos at this price.’ Very brazen. No attempt to hide behind any kind of codified kind of conversation … including ‘we’ll have a speed boat to meet you at this place …’”

As AFP officers continue its sweeping raids across the nation today, Mr Kershaw said criminals were in a state of panic.
“They all turn on each other,” Mr Kershaw said.

“The other thing that we learnt is that they actually do a lot of business behind each other’s backs, including the presidents of various groups and organisations for personal wealth.

“So there’s going to be a whole lot of disruption there, and our state police colleagues are on alert for that because there’s no doubt going to be some tension within the whole system about who owes what drug debt and so on.
“So that was pretty brazen to see that they were actually disloyal to their own groups.”
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Despite the massive sting, the PM said authorities still had a long way to go. Picture: Victoria PoliceSource:Supplied

Despite the massive sting, the Prime Minister said authorities still had a long way to go.
“This isn’t over. This is a long way from over. Others will seek to rise up where others have fallen,” Mr Morrison said.

“And as they seek to take it out on each other, as criminals inevitably do, there will be others seeking to take advantage.

“And that’s why the resource will continue to flow. The support will continue to be there.
“And the authorities that they need to do what they do every day and to ensure that
Australia can keep winning this fight against organised crime — that will be provided by our government.”

Suburbs where warrants were carried out
In Victoria, police carried out warrants in : Keysborough, Aspendale Gardens, Elwood, Port Melbourne, Footscray, Point Cook, Sunshine West, Sydenham, Seabrook, Westmeadows, Keilor East, St Kilda East, Werribee, Taylors Lakes, Dandenong North, Keilor Park, Taylors Hill, Keilor Park, Southbank, Laverton North, Thornhill Park, Cairnlea, Glenroy, Greenvale, Tottenham, Mickleham, Thomastown, Narre Warren, Cranbourne West, Hampton Park, Meadow Heights, Dallas, Niddrie, Sunshine North, Craigieburn, Tarneit, Collingwood, Bulleen, Blackburn, Thornbury, Essendon, Doncaster, Airport West, Coburg North, Williams Landing, Brooklyn, Balwyn North, Gisborne, Buninyong, Templestowe Lower, Moolap and Lalor.

In NSW, warrants were carried out over two days at locations including Alexandria, Barangaroo, Breakfast Point, Brighton Le Sands, Denham Court, Enfield, Erskine Park, Glebe, Kareela, Lidcombe, Lindfield, Macquarie Park, Malabar, Marsden Park, Middleton Grange, Monterey, Mortdale, Mudgee, Randwick, Redfern, Ropes Crossing, Punchbowl, Pyrmont and Vaucluse.

https://www.news.com.au/national/crime/afp-fbi-pull-off-sting-of-the-century-and-arrest-mafia-bikie-members/news-story/1f53fe682d2ce054cd445539022a863a

annnnnnd , scotty from marketing has presented at a press conference taking all the credit

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PM Hosts One Hour Press Conference Taking Credit For AFP Bikie Sting He Found About Yesterday

While this impressive three-year collaboration between the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was obviously so sensitive that no cops worth the guns on their hips would let this Liberal Government anywhere near it – they haven’t been able to stop the Prime Minister for taking complete credit for their result.

The mere fact that the government wasn’t mentioned once yesterday when this story first broke in the major mastheads suggests Scotty From Marketing moved quickly to organise an hour-long press conference where he played stage MC to the people who actually pulled this off.

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Hundreds of alleged offenders were tricked into communicating via AN0M, an encrypted app designed by police.

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Fucking eejits.

:)

BERLIN, June 8 (Reuters) - German police detained more than 70 suspects and searched over 150 locations in Germany as a part of a global crackdown on organized crime in 15 countries, authorities said on Tuesday.


The raids on Monday, focused in the western state of Hesse and in cooperation with Europol, were part of an investigation initiated by U.S. law enforcement authorities that started in 2018, Frankfurt public prosecutors office said.


Authorities seized hundreds of kilograms of drugs, more than 20 weapons, over 30 luxury cars and cash worth 250,000 euros, as well as IT equipment.


The suspects are accused of using prepaid phones containing an encrypted messaging app to deal in weapons and drugs, prosecutors said.


The raids, which involved nearly 1,500 law enforcement officers, were part of a European leg of a global sting in which criminals were given phones that allowed law enforcement officials to listen in on their conversations.


UPDATE 1-Germany arrests over 70 suspects in global crime bust

I think that's all part of "Operation Ironside" misskit. You might see a few of these around the world.

:)

Arrested over 30 here in NZ, mostly Gang Members of Mongrel Mob, Black Power and Comancheros

The Criminals Thought the Devices Were Secure. But the Seller Was the F.B.I.

MELBOURNE, Australia — The devices, procured on the black market, performed only a single function hidden behind a calculator app: sending encrypted messages and photos.


For years, organized crime figures around the globe relied on the devices to orchestrate international drug shipments, coordinate arms and explosives trafficking, and discuss contract killings, law enforcement officials said. Users trusted the devices’ security so much that they often laid out their plans not in code, but in plain language.


Unbeknown to them, the entire network was run by the F.B.I.


On Tuesday, global law enforcement officials revealed the three-year operation, in which they said they had intercepted over 20 million messages, and arrested at least 800 people in more than a dozen countries.


In Australia, the effort ensnared domestic and international organized crime groups and outlaw motorcycle gangs, with more than 200 people arrested, officials said. Hundreds more were arrested in Europe, the authorities said, and American law enforcement officials were expected to announce further arrests later on Tuesday.


The operation, as described by the Australian authorities and court documents in the United States, represents a breakthrough for law enforcement. Although the authorities have cracked or shut down encrypted platforms in the past — such as one called EncroChat that the police in Europe successfully hacked — this is the first known instance in which officials have controlled an entire encrypted network from its inception.


“We have been in the back pockets of organized crime,” Reece Kershaw, the commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, said on Tuesday.


The F.B.I.’s operation, according to the court documents, which were unsealed by the Justice Department on Monday, had its origins in early 2018, after the bureau dismantled a Canadian-based encryption service called Phantom Secure. That company, officials said, supplied encrypted cellphones to drug cartels and other criminal groups.


Seeing a void in the underground market, the F.B.I. recruited a former Phantom Secure distributor who had been developing a new encrypted communications system, called Anom. The informant agreed to work for the F.B.I. and let the bureau control the network for the possibility of a reduced prison sentence, according to the court documents. The F.B.I. paid the informant $120,000, the documents said.


Anom devices were cellphones that had been stripped of all normal functions. Their only working app was disguised as the calculator function: After entering a code, users could send messages and photos with end-to-end encryption.


Working with the Australian authorities, the F.B.I. and the informant developed a “master key” that allowed them to reroute the messages to a third country and decrypt them.


The authorities also relied on the informant to get the devices into the highly insular criminal networks. The informant started in October 2018 by offering the devices to three other distributors with connections to organized crime in Australia.


A big break, law enforcement officials said, came when they were able to get one of the devices into the hands of Hakan Ayik, an Australian who fled the country a decade ago and whom the police believe has been directing drug imports from Turkey.


The user base grew quickly, and as of last month, there were about 9,000 active devices and users in more than 90 countries, according to the F.B.I. In all, over 300 criminal syndicates used the devices, officials said, including in Germany, the Netherlands and Spain.


Jean-Philippe Lecouffe, deputy executive director of Europol, said the operation gave law enforcement “exceptional insight into the criminal landscape and will provide spinoff investigations.”


The Australian authorities acknowledged that Anom had carried only a small percentage of the total volume of encrypted communications sent by criminal networks. But they said that Anom had an advantage: Those running it were able to listen — directly — to the target audience and give users what they wanted.


After users spoke of desiring smaller, newer phones, the authorities began to provide them.


Australian officials said they had revealed the operation on Tuesday because of the need to disrupt dangerous plots currently in motion and because of limited time frames for legal authorities invoked to intercept the communications.


The Anom website previously displayed sleek graphics and glossy videos reminiscent of Apple ads. On Tuesday, it bore a new message: Users who wanted to “discuss how your account has been linked to an ongoing investigation” could enter their account details.


The post The Criminals Thought the Devices Were Secure. But the Seller Was the F.B.I. appeared first on New York Times.


The Criminals Thought the Devices Were Secure. But the Seller Was the F.B.I. – DNyuz

Awesome, but it sounds very sketchy and possible illegal in some countries. Guess we will see how it plays out.

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Originally Posted by TheRealKW

Awesome, but it sounds very sketchy and possible illegal in some countries. Guess we will see how it plays out.

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Doesn't sound sketchy at all if they were only reading the messages in one country and had the jurisdiction to do it.

I'm sure there are a few in dodgy countries run by dictators and gangsters that were deliberately kept out of the loop.

Operation Ironside leaves Australian man Hakan Ayik a marked man

The Australian man who was tricked into unmasking criminal associates is now a marked man with some of the world’s most dangerous people.

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Hakan Ayik is now a marked man.Source:Supplied



Hakan Ayik had no idea what he was getting himself into.
The 42-year-old Australian drug kingpin with links to the Comanchero bikies and Asian triads thought he was doing a favour to criminal associates when he passed along an encrypted communications app.
What he did not know was that he had fallen head first into a trap set by Australian Federal Police officers and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Ayik had been handed a device from undercover agents who told him it was the perfect way to communicate with criminal associates and arrange drug imports without detection. Their conversations were untraceable, he was told.
In reality, the FBI and the AFP would be watching every conversation.
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Former Sydneysider Hakan Ayik has been living in Turkey. Police say he is now a marked man.Source:Supplied

Drug kingpin urged to hand himself in
Ayik, who was the first person given access to the app named AN0M, did what police had hoped he would do. He passed it on to every underworld figure he knew and provided police with access to 25 million messages regarding criminal plots.
On Tuesday, when news broke that police had carried out the southern hemisphere’s biggest ever crime bust, Ayik’s name was front and centre.
It will be whispered among networks around the world, authorities say, given the 42-year-old is the “principal distributor of the AN0M handset”.
AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said Ayik, who has been living in Turkey, was a marked man and should turn himself into authorities.
“Given the threat he faces, he’s best off handing himself into us as soon as he can,” Commissioner Kershaw said.




“He was one of the coordinators of this particular device, so he’s essentially set up his own colleagues.”
The Daily Telegraph, which broke the story, reports that Ayik was a Sydney bikie associate who fled overseas in 2010 to avoid police arresting him in relation to a $230 million heroin importation.
He was arrested in Cyprus but escaped and was last seen in Turkey. An Interpol red notice for his arrest remains active.
The AFP on Tuesday announced that 4000 officers raided properties across the country and 200 offenders were charged. More than $45m in assets and cash were seized.
Officers sized 27 firearms – including two Glock pistols and a 50-calibre sniper rifle – as well as luxury vehicles including a Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren and Bentley.
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Ayik, right, was given access to the AN0M app, and shared it with associates.Source:Supplied

Ayik a ‘primary target’ for Operation Ironside
The Telegraph quoted an AFP senior investigator who said Ayik was “identified” by authorities as a “primary target ... because of his standing within the underworld.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the international sting was a “heavy blow against organised crime” and a “watershed moment for law enforcement.
“This is a watershed moment in Australian law enforcement history,” the PM said.
“Operation Ironside puts Australia at the forefront of this fight against dangerous, organised criminals who peddle in human misery, and ultimately it will keep our communities and Australians safer.”
The prime minister described Tuesday as a “proud day” for the families of officers who took part, often at great sacrifice.
“You can be very proud of the work they’re doing today, and I’m incredibly proud of all those who are wearing blue in this country today,” he said.
AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw revealed the operation, which remained ongoing, had already led to 224 offenders being charged, around $45m in assets and cash seized, six clandestine laboratories shut down and 21 threats to kill acted upon.
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Hakan Ayik should “hand himself in”, police say.Source:Supplied

Mass shooting event foiled by huge sting
Law enforcement had also managed to apprehend an offender planning a mass shooting, he revealed.
“They were using a machine gun potentially at a cafe where people would have been no doubt harmed,” he said.
“We were able to, with the co-operation of that particular state police force, take that individual before they’re able to do that.”
The idea to give law enforcement real-time access to criminal messages via an encrypted app was first hatched over beers between two Australian investigators and FBI agents in 2018.
“Some of the best ideas come over a couple of beers,” Mr Kershaw said.
But he warned AN0M was a “small platform” compared to other encrypted apps, which continued to pose a significant challenge to law enforcement.
Speaking alongside the prime minister, FBI Legal Attache Anthony Russo said international co-operation was increasingly important as crime transversed borders.
“The threats we face are too diverse and too complex for any one organisation to tackle alone,” he said.
“Over the years, we have learned that working together is not just the best option, it’s the only option. Partnerships are at the core of everything we do.”

https://www.news.com.au/national/crime/operation-ironside-leaves-australian-man-hakan-ayik-a-marked-man/news-story/7a782c2647b386062d9beaaad5bc324b

What's that about brains and brawn?

This guy is right royally fu@ked

Thats legit pretty amazing - not quite as amazing as living in a shitty house to not raise suspicion but parking your Mclaren supercar in the garage.

Nice of the cops to put pressure on this POS