Anom Exposed: How the FBI Ran a Global Encrypted Crime Network

Journalist Joseph Cox revealed the largest covert FBI operation involving the use of encrypted phone networks to monitor criminal activity.

In 2018, a secure communication platform called Anom entered the market, quickly gaining popularity among criminal organizations. Influential drug traffickers across the globe used it extensively, convinced that their messages were protected. On the Anom platform, discussions centered on smuggling illicit substances, orchestrating crimes, and other illegal activities. However, Anom had a secret: the platform was under the control of the FBI.

The story became a highlight at the annual DEF CON hacker conference, where the author delved into every aspect of Anom’s operation. During a 40-minute lecture, a comprehensive analysis was provided, covering everything from the workings of the phones and the network to the backdoor mechanism through which intelligence agencies accessed the communications. Additionally, details about Anom’s corporate structure and the FBI’s efforts to advance the project were disclosed.

For three years, the intelligence agencies ran the company, providing criminals around the world with secure phones while simultaneously monitoring their actions. This gave agents unprecedented access to information about criminal activity, enabling real-time tracking of drug traffickers, smugglers, and other criminals.

The FBI’s management of Anom proved to be not only a brilliant tactical move but also a logistical challenge. Agents faced issues typical of any tech startup, from cloud services to logistics and customer support. The operation became so successful that it had to be shut down in 2021, as the scale of surveillance exceeded manageable limits.

One of the most gripping moments was when the supply of Google Pixel smartphones used by Anom suddenly plummeted. When the devices became scarce, the FBI orchestrated a secret operation. The intelligence services flew a shipment of Android devices to Europe on a private plane, then left them at a designated location, from where Anom intermediaries collected them, unaware of who was behind the delivery.

Operation Anom marked a turning point in the fight against organized crime. The intelligence gathered helped prevent numerous crimes, intercept large quantities of illicit substances, and dismantle entire criminal networks. By the end of the operation, more than 800 individuals were arrested across 16 countries, and a massive haul of drugs, weapons, and significant sums of criminally earned money was seized.