22 Jun 2021

AN0M: Police arrest wanted man in relation to use of FBI-run app

3:52 pm on 22 June 2021

Police have arrested a man who was sought in relation to an operation that targeted users of an FBI-run encrypted app.

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They said the 26-year-old man was now in custody.

He is scheduled to appear in Hamilton District Court next month.

Operation Equinox was one of several being run by police under the umbrella Operation Spyglass - an international effort with law enforcement agencies to investigate sale and supply of methamphetamine and money laundering activities.

Police revealed details of the operations this month, unveiling the creation of a special encryption platform - AN0M - to access organised crime communications.

Police had said users unknowingly communicated on the system, operated by the FBI, for over 18 months.

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