Irish and Spanish law enforcement authorities have dealt a “massive blow” to one of Ireland’s high-risk criminal networks, according to Europol, arresting twelve suspects in coordinated raids across both countries this week.
The EU’s law enforcement agency reported today that An Garda Síochána and Guardia Civil officers carried out simultaneous operations resulting in six arrests in Ireland and six in Spain. The suspects are allegedly involved in “large-scale drug trafficking,” primarily moving narcotics hidden in vehicles from Spain to Ireland.
Law enforcement first uncovered the alleged criminal activities, including reports of drug trafficking and money laundering, following the takedown of the Ghost encrypted communication platform in September 2024.
The alleged criminals had attempted to evade detection by employing “sophisticated encrypted communications,” using multiple fragmented platforms. However, investigators traced several Ghost user handles back to the network members.
Europol say they have supported this investigation since November 2023, providing expertise from various crime fields to help piece together the network’s organisational structure.
“The sophistication of their communications was in stark contrast to the simplicity of their modus operandi,” the agency stated.
“It consisted of smuggling cocaine and marijuana across the continent in vehicles equipped with custom-made secret compartments and cloned number plates.”
On the day of the arrests, Europol deployed two experts with mobile offices to Spain and Ireland, providing immediate assistance in securing and analysing evidence.
“The information gathered during the Ghost takedown not only provided evidence of individual drug shipments but, more importantly, helped investigators piece together the network’s organisational structure,” the Europol release explained.
The criminal network had utilised Ghost due to its advanced security features, including multiple encryption standards and self-destructing message capabilities, allowing criminals to coordinate illicit activities securely.
Europol’s Executive Director Catherine De Bolle previously described Ghost as “a lifeline for serious organised crime.”
“Today we have made it clear that no matter how hidden criminal networks think they are, they can’t evade our collective effort,” De Bolle said.
The broader Europol-led operation against Ghost involved authorities from nine countries, resulting in the arrest of more than 51 suspects globally since last September, alongside seizures of weapons, drugs, and over €1 million in cash.
Law enforcement actions like these have significantly disrupted the encrypted communications landscape used by criminals, which Europol described as increasingly “fragmented” and “dynamic,” as criminal actors move towards less-established or custom-built communication methods.