NEW YORK CITY —The U.S. Secret Service revealed it has dismantled a sophisticated telecommunications network operating in the New York tri-state area that posed a direct threat to national security and the city’s communication infrastructure—just days before the start of the United Nations General Assembly.
Early analysis indicates that cellular communications exist between nation-state threat actors and individuals known to federal law enforcement, according to a Secret Service press release.
The operation, led by the Secret Service’s New York field office, uncovered what officials described as “tens of thousands” of collocated and networked cellular devices. These devices, according to law enforcement, were capable of enabling encrypted, anonymous communication between criminal organizations and potential threat actors.
“Following multiple telecommunications-related imminent threats directed towards senior US government officials this spring, the US Secret Service began a protective intelligence investigation to determine the extent and impact these threats could have on protective operations.” according to Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office Matt McCool.
Working in coordination with Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Justice, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and local agencies including the New York Police Department, federal agents traced the threats to a distributed yet tightly coordinated network of cellular devices across the region. Many of the devices were found within a 35-mile radius of Midtown Manhattan.
“This network had the potential to disable cell phone towers and essentially shut down the cellular network in New York City.” McCool said. “
Officials confirmed that the timing of the discovery—coinciding with the arrival of hundreds of foreign dignitaries, heads of state, and security personnel for the UN General Assembly—elevated the urgency of the operation.
Although no arrests have been made, forensic teams are now sifting through what McCool described as the “equivalent of 100,000 cell phones worth of data.” Preliminary analysis suggests some of the communications involved known foreign actors and individuals already under federal surveillance.
The Secret Service did not rule out the possibility that the network was designed to disrupt the UN General Assembly, or to serve as a platform for more sustained attacks on U.S. infrastructure. Analysts are also exploring whether the system was part of a broader cyber-espionage or terrorism campaign.
The Secret Service, traditionally known for its role in protecting the president and other high-level officials, has expanded its cyber and protective intelligence capabilities significantly over the past decade.
“This is an active and ongoing investigation,” McCool emphasized. “At this time, the devices no longer pose a threat to the New York tri-state area. Our goal now is to fully understand the intent behind this network and to identify who was behind it.”
