International organized crime and drug trafficking groups were dealt a
blow by the takedown of an encrypted communication service they used to
plan and commit their crimes, the FBI and its international partners
announced yesterday.
Canada-based Phantom Secure was a criminal enterprise that provided secure communications to high-level drug traffickers and other criminal organization leaders. The group purchased smartphones, removed all of the typical functionality—calling, texting, Internet, and GPS—and installed an encrypted e-mail system, so the phones could only communicate with each other. If a customer was arrested, Phantom Secure destroyed the data on that phone, which is obstruction of justice under U.S. law. In an attempt to thwart law enforcement efforts, the company required new customers to have a reference from an existing user.
Given the limited functionality of the phones and the fact that they only operate within a closed network of criminals, all of Phantom Secure’s customers are believed to be involved in serious criminal activity. Most of Phantom Secure’s 10,000 to 20,000 users are the top-level leaders of nefarious transnational criminal organizations in the U.S. and several other countries, and the products were marketed as impervious to decryption or wiretapping.
Canada-based Phantom Secure was a criminal enterprise that provided secure communications to high-level drug traffickers and other criminal organization leaders. The group purchased smartphones, removed all of the typical functionality—calling, texting, Internet, and GPS—and installed an encrypted e-mail system, so the phones could only communicate with each other. If a customer was arrested, Phantom Secure destroyed the data on that phone, which is obstruction of justice under U.S. law. In an attempt to thwart law enforcement efforts, the company required new customers to have a reference from an existing user.
Given the limited functionality of the phones and the fact that they only operate within a closed network of criminals, all of Phantom Secure’s customers are believed to be involved in serious criminal activity. Most of Phantom Secure’s 10,000 to 20,000 users are the top-level leaders of nefarious transnational criminal organizations in the U.S. and several other countries, and the products were marketed as impervious to decryption or wiretapping.
“Working with our international partners in Australia and Canada, we
learned that these phones have been used to coordinate drug trafficking,
murders, assaults, money laundering, and all sorts of other crimes,”
said Special Agent Nicholas Cheviron of the FBI’s San Diego Division,
who investigated the case along with U.S. and international
counterparts. “By shutting down Phantom Secure, criminals worldwide no
longer have that platform to conduct their dangerous criminal
activities.”
In collaboration with the Australian Federal Police, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and law enforcement agencies in Panama, Hong Kong, and Thailand, Phantom Secure’s founder and chief executive Vincent Ramos was arrested in Bellingham, Washington, on March 7. Four of Ramos’ associates are fugitives. They are charged with conspiracy to distribute narcotics and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act violations.
This case is the first time the U.S. government has targeted a company and its leaders for assisting a criminal organization by providing them with technology to “go dark,” or evade law enforcement’s detection of their crimes.
In collaboration with the Australian Federal Police, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and law enforcement agencies in Panama, Hong Kong, and Thailand, Phantom Secure’s founder and chief executive Vincent Ramos was arrested in Bellingham, Washington, on March 7. Four of Ramos’ associates are fugitives. They are charged with conspiracy to distribute narcotics and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act violations.
This case is the first time the U.S. government has targeted a company and its leaders for assisting a criminal organization by providing them with technology to “go dark,” or evade law enforcement’s detection of their crimes.
“By shutting down Phantom Secure, criminals worldwide no longer have that platform to conduct their dangerous criminal activities.”
Nicholas Cheviron, special agent, FBI San Diego
“The indictment of Vincent Ramos and his associates is a milestone
against transnational crime,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray.
“Phantom Secure allegedly provided a service designed to allow criminals
the world over to evade law enforcement to traffic drugs and commit
acts of violent crime without detection. Ramos and his company made
millions off this criminal activity, and our takedown sends a serious
message to those who exploit encryption to go dark on law enforcement. I
want to thank our partners at the Department of Justice, as well as our
Australian and Canadian law enforcement partners, for their incredible
work on this case.”
The FBI takes an enterprise approach to transnational organized crime, taking down criminal organizations from the top using the RICO Act. The sweeping investigation allowed the entire illicit operation—and its technological infrastructure—to be taken down at one time.
“We had to investigate the entire company and its leaders, both from a personnel and technology perspective,” Cheviron said. “Without arresting the principals and seizing the technology, including more than 150 domain names, you wouldn’t be able to disrupt the communication.”
The FBI takes an enterprise approach to transnational organized crime, taking down criminal organizations from the top using the RICO Act. The sweeping investigation allowed the entire illicit operation—and its technological infrastructure—to be taken down at one time.
“We had to investigate the entire company and its leaders, both from a personnel and technology perspective,” Cheviron said. “Without arresting the principals and seizing the technology, including more than 150 domain names, you wouldn’t be able to disrupt the communication.”
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