A global law enforcement operation involving officers from the FBI, the Australian Federal Police and state law enforcement agencies has led to more than 220 people being arrested on 526 charges across Australia, while 3.7 tonnes of drugs, 104 weapons and $45 million in cash have allegedly been seized.

The operation came as a result of intelligence from a compromised encrypted communications app relied on by senior underworld figures.

Crime reporter Fergus Hunter has been covering the story and joins Nathanael Cooper on Please Explain to look at how this happened.

Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A global law enforcement operation involving officers from the FBI, the Australian Federal Police and state law enforcement agencies has led to more than 220 people being arrested on 526 charges across Australia, while 3.7 tonnes of drugs, 104 weapons and $45 million in cash have allegedly been seized.


The operation came as a result of intelligence from a compromised encrypted communications app relied on by senior underworld figures.


Crime reporter Fergus Hunter has been covering the story and joins Nathanael Cooper on Please Explain to look at how this happened.

Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.