US Secret Service dismantled covert communications network near the U.N. in New York

The US Secret Service dismantled a covert communications network uncovered near the U.N. headquarters in New York, seizing 100,000 SIM cards and 300 servers. The operation involved a system capable of sending 30 million texts per minute and could be used to disable cellular towers or conduct mass surveillance. Investigators also found illegal firearms, computers, cell phones and 80 grams of cocaine at the site, underscoring the mix of cyber-enabled activity with traditional crime.

The network was described as a full parallel infrastructure featuring racks of servers and a mass of SIMs that could flood carriers or launch phishing campaigns, raising concerns about its potential impact during high-profile events. According to investigators, the cache was not directly linked to the U.N.

General Assembly underway at the time, but the proximity to the U.N. headquarters and the scale prompted concerns; researchers have speculated that only a handful of countries such as Russia, China, or Israel would have the resources to replicate such a facility.