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The AFP has charged a Victorian man, who has alleged connections to Albanian organised crime, for his alleged involvement in trafficking $1.2 million dollars’ worth of cannabis between Victoria and New South Wales and for dealing with suspected illicit cash, as a result of intelligence from the AFP’s disruption of the Ghost encrypted communications platform.

The Hillside man, 38, was identified during AFP-led Operation Kraken as an alleged reseller of Ghost encrypted criminal communications (ECC) devices used to coordinate secret communications between members of an Albanian organised criminal syndicate.

As a result of this intelligence, police allegedly linked him to $140,000 in suspected illicit cash, which was seized after it was found hidden in a vehicle on the Hume Highway on 21 June, 2024. Police also allegedly linked him to 28kg of cannabis and $255,000 in suspected illicit cash and a Porsche Cayenne vehicle found in New South Wales on 15 August, 2024.

New South Wales Police Force’s State Crime Command’s Raptor Squad arrested a Sydney man for his alleged involvement in the items seized in August, 2024.

Officers from the Victorian Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (JOCTF), comprising of AFP and Victoria Police officers, executed three search warrants on 17 September, 2024, in the Victorian suburbs of Hillside and Aintree, where they located and seized 25kg of mature cannabis plants.

Officers from the JOCTF arrested the Hillside man and an Aintree man, 27, yesterday (Tuesday, 17 September).

The Hillside man was later charged with:

• One count of sell marketable quantity of a controlled plant, namely cannabis, contrary to section 304.2 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
• One count of dealing with money suspected as being proceeds of crime in excess of $100,000, contrary to section 400.9(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth); and
• One count of cultivate for a commercial purpose a controlled plant, namely cannabis, contrary to section 303.6 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).

He faced the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 17 September, 2024, and was remanded to reappear in court on 23 September, 2024.

Note to media

Media are encouraged to include help-seeking information in stories about illicit drugs to minimise any negative impact on people in the community. The following services provide people with access to support and information.

• For free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drug treatment services call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015
• Access free 24/7 drug and alcohol counselling online
• Information about drug and alcohol addiction treatment.

More information

• AFP Operation Kraken charges alleged head of global organised crime app

Case studies

• Operation Kraken Rishi – Alleged criminal syndicate disrupted in Melbourne, exposed in takedown of Ghost platform
• Criminal syndicate dismantled as part of AFP takedown of encrypted organised crime network
• Six arrested following investigation into criminal syndicate accused of manufacturing false terrorism plot
• NSW-based drug organised crime syndicate dismantled, four men arrested
• Op Kraken-Ryloth: Victorian duo charged over alleged plans for illicit tobacco import
• Operation Kraken: AFP restrains almost $2 million in assets in WA investigation
• Operation Kraken: AFP charges WA man for allegedly refusing to provide access to an electronic device
• Operation Kraken-Veron: South Australian man charged for alleged role in criminal syndicate