Ghost has been shut down. The encrypted communication platform, which enabled large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering, has been dismantled, according to Europol.

A global investigation has led to the arrest of 51 suspects from multiple countries, with more expected, as global powers have come together to halt the platform.

Ghost was a major player among criminal organizations for its advanced security features, with this dismantling signalling a significant victory against crime networks.

"This was truly a global game of cat and mouse, and today, the game is up," Europol's Deputy Executive Director Jean-Philippe Lecouffe said.

Europol claims the shutdown prevented several threats to life, dismantled a drug lab in Australia and led to the global seizure of weapons, drugs, and over $1.11 in cash.

"Today we have made it clear that no matter how hidden criminal networks think they are, they can’t evade our collective effort," Europol's Executive Director Catherine De Bolle said, calling the Ghost platform "a lifeline for serious organised crime".

The operation was conducted with the help of authorities from Australia, Canada, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United States, as part of a broader commitment to combat global organized crime.

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