55 people arrested in Australia for laundering money using cryptocurrencies

Key points:

• The South Australian Police, in conjunction with the FBI, conducted a major operation called “Ironside,” during which 55 people were arrested and 800 charges were brought.
• Authorities seized approximately $37,9 million in cryptocurrency assets linked to an international criminal network.
• The use of the encrypted AN0M app allowed investigators to uncover large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering schemes.

South Australia Police laid 800 charges and made 55 arrests in connection with the activities of a large criminal group linked to cryptocurrency. This was the final stage of a joint operation called “Ironside” between the Australian Federal Police and the FBI.

According to ABC News, cryptocurrency assets worth approximately 58 million Australian dollars ($37,9 million) were seized as part of the investigation.

AN0M app for decrypting criminal correspondence

Investigators used the app to exchange encrypted messages related to drug smuggling and cryptocurrency transactions. A new phase of the operation was launched after the High Court allowed AN0M correspondence to be used as evidence.

Deputy Police Commissioner Linda Williams called the operation a “significant blow to organized crime across South Australia.” She emphasized that the arrests were unprecedented in scale, with 300 police officers participating in the raids.

The FBI planted the AN0M app on modified phones without cameras, GPS, or browsers to attract criminals seeking secure communications. The app was allegedly hidden in the calculator app on each phone.

The FBI and Australian police secretly intercepted communications transmitted via AN0M using a unique message-decryption feature. As a result, more than 1000 people worldwide were arrested on suspicion of possessing weapons, illegal substances, and laundering money using cryptocurrencies.

Earlier, as part of a similar investigation, Thai authorities arrested Liang Ai-Bing, a Chinese citizen. He is accused of organizing a crypto Ponzi scheme and implementing a fraudulent scheme worth $31 million.