FBI Messaging App Tricks International Criminals
2021-06-09
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1Law enforcement agencies in several countries say they have prevented crimes and made many arrests thanks to a computer app.
2The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) secretly operated a secure messaging service so that it would send copies of messages to its own computers.
3The effort was part of an operation called Trojan Shield which has led to police raids in 16 countries.
4Law enforcement agencies around the world announced the operation Tuesday.
5Trojan Shield led to the arrests of more than 800 criminal suspects.
6More than 32 tons of illegal drugs were seized.
7In addition, 250 guns, 55 cars and more than $148 million in cash and online currencies also were seized.
8The operation started when law enforcement agencies seized a company that provided encrypted devices to suspected criminals.
9Then the FBI established a messaging service called ANOM which secretly sent messages to law enforcement computers.
10Later, police broke up the operations of two encrypted messaging services.
11They were called EncroChat and Sky ECC. Suspected criminal groups used these apps to organize drug trafficking and murders.
12The suspected criminals were then looking for another way to communicate.
13The ANOM app was then put on cell phones that the agencies changed and that were provided to suspects.
14Over the past 18 months, the FBI provided the phones to more than 300 criminal groups in more than 100 countries.
15They were given to suspects by people who did not know about the law enforcement operation.
16Calvin Shivers is the assistant director of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division.
17He told reporters in The Hague that the operation "...helped prevent a number of crimes."
18He also said the intelligence gathered and examined permitted police to prevent murders.
19And it led to the seizure of drugs and weapons.
20The operation was led by the FBI.
21The United States' Drug Enforcement Administration, the European Union police agency Europol and law enforcement agencies in other countries were also involved.
22Top police officers around the world commented.
23They said an operation like this has never been seen.
24They also said it marks an important point in law enforcement history.
25The ANOM app became popular in criminal groups as users told one another it was safe.
26However, police were secretly watching and listening as criminals discussed murders, drug shipments and other crimes.
27Shivers commented on the move to take down messaging apps used by criminals.
28He said there was a hole that was created by the lack of encrypted apps.
29He said it created a chance for law enforcement to work with international partners.
30Agencies not only developed a tool but also developed a process of gathering and sharing intelligence.
31Law enforcement agencies from Sweden to New Zealand described the operation as having an important effect.
32Linda Staaf is the head of Sweden's criminal intelligence division.
33She said Swedish police prevented several planned murders.
34And they believe they have arrested several "leading actors in criminal networks."
35Finish police said Tuesday that nearly 100 people are being questioned.
36More than 500 kilograms of drugs, many guns and hundreds of thousands of dollars were seized.
37German police said more than 70 people were arrested Monday and drugs, money and weapons were also seized.
38In Australia, police said they arrested 224 people and seized more than 4000 kilograms of drugs and $35 million.
39New Zealand police said they had arrested 35 people and seized drugs and objects worth millions of dollars.
40Last year, European police were able to get into the encrypted communications network EncroChat.
41It was used by criminal groups across Europe.
42In March, Belgian police arrested several people after accessing another encrypted messaging system.
43Police seized more than 17 tons of the drug cocaine.
44Shivers said Operation Trojan Shield took never-before-seen international cooperation, work, and new ideas.
45He said, "the results are staggering."
46I'm Mario Ritter.
1Law enforcement agencies in several countries say they have prevented crimes and made many arrests thanks to a computer app. 2The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) secretly operated a secure messaging service so that it would send copies of messages to its own computers. The effort was part of an operation called Trojan Shield which has led to police raids in 16 countries. 3Law enforcement agencies around the world announced the operation Tuesday. 4Trojan Shield led to the arrests of more than 800 criminal suspects. More than 32 tons of illegal drugs were seized. In addition, 250 guns, 55 cars and more than $148 million in cash and online currencies also were seized. 5The operation started when law enforcement agencies seized a company that provided encrypted devices to suspected criminals. Then the FBI established a messaging service called ANOM which secretly sent messages to law enforcement computers. 6Later, police broke up the operations of two encrypted messaging services. They were called EncroChat and Sky ECC. Suspected criminal groups used these apps to organize drug trafficking and murders. 7The suspected criminals were then looking for another way to communicate. The ANOM app was then put on cell phones that the agencies changed and that were provided to suspects. 8Over the past 18 months, the FBI provided the phones to more than 300 criminal groups in more than 100 countries. They were given to suspects by people who did not know about the law enforcement operation. 9Calvin Shivers is the assistant director of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division. He told reporters in The Hague that the operation "...helped prevent a number of crimes." 10He also said the intelligence gathered and examined permitted police to prevent murders. And it led to the seizure of drugs and weapons. 11The operation was led by the FBI. The United States' Drug Enforcement Administration, the European Union police agency Europol and law enforcement agencies in other countries were also involved. 12Top police officers around the world commented. They said an operation like this has never been seen. They also said it marks an important point in law enforcement history. 13The ANOM app became popular in criminal groups as users told one another it was safe. However, police were secretly watching and listening as criminals discussed murders, drug shipments and other crimes. 14Shivers commented on the move to take down messaging apps used by criminals. He said there was a hole that was created by the lack of encrypted apps. 15He said it created a chance for law enforcement to work with international partners. Agencies not only developed a tool but also developed a process of gathering and sharing intelligence. 16Law enforcement agencies from Sweden to New Zealand described the operation as having an important effect. 17Linda Staaf is the head of Sweden's criminal intelligence division. She said Swedish police prevented several planned murders. And they believe they have arrested several "leading actors in criminal networks." 18Finish police said Tuesday that nearly 100 people are being questioned. More than 500 kilograms of drugs, many guns and hundreds of thousands of dollars were seized. 19German police said more than 70 people were arrested Monday and drugs, money and weapons were also seized. 20In Australia, police said they arrested 224 people and seized more than 4000 kilograms of drugs and $35 million. New Zealand police said they had arrested 35 people and seized drugs and objects worth millions of dollars. 21Last year, European police were able to get into the encrypted communications network EncroChat. It was used by criminal groups across Europe. 22In March, Belgian police arrested several people after accessing another encrypted messaging system. Police seized more than 17 tons of the drug cocaine. 23Shivers said Operation Trojan Shield took never-before-seen international cooperation, work, and new ideas. He said, "the results are staggering." 24I'm Mario Ritter. 25Mike Corder and Nick Perry reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 26______________________________________________________________________ 27Words in This Story 28app - n. computer program that performs a special function 29cash -n. money in the form of paper bills or metal coins 30currency - n. : the money that a country uses : a specific kind of money 31encrypt - v. to change (information) from one form to another especially to hide its meaning 32staggering - adj. very large, shocking, or surprising