The infiltration of an encrypted communication tool used for criminal activities worldwide has led to the seizure of 15 million euro (£12.6 million) worth of cocaine and 11 arrests in Ireland.
The platform, known as Ghost, was used to facilitate criminal activity including drug trafficking, money laundering and instances of extreme violence, authorities said.
Europol, along with law enforcement agencies from nine countries, dismantled the tool, described as “a lifeline” for serious organised crime.
An Garda Siochana (Irish police) said it was conducting Ghost-related investigations in relation to four identified organised crime groups in Ireland, involved in drug trafficking and money laundering “on a significant scale”.
The infiltration of the platform led to a series of searches carried out on Monday evening at 27 premises across Dublin and counties in the east of Ireland, involving 300 gardai.
This was truly a global game of cat and mouse, and today the game is up
Representatives from Europol, the Australian Federal Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation were in Ireland for the operation.
As a result of the operation, and previous Garda activity related to Ghost, 15 million euro worth of cocaine, 230,000 euro (£194,000) of cannabis, and 100,000 euro (£84,000) of heroin has been seized by gardai, along with 350,000 euro (£295,000) in cash.
Twenty-seven laptops, 42 suspected Ghost ECC encrypted devices, and 126 other mobile devices were among the other items seized.
Eleven arrests have also been made.
Speaking at a joint press conference on Wednesday, Europol executive director Catherine De Bolle said: “Today we have made it clear that no matter how hidden criminal networks think they are, they can’t evade our collective effort.”
Europol deputy executive director Jean-Philippe Lecouffe added: “This was truly a global game of cat and mouse, and today the game is up.”