UNGA 80: How Secret Service crushed major telecom threat near Assembly

The U.S. Secret Service says it has dismantled a massive telecom threat across the New York tristate area, preventing what officials described as an “imminent” risk to senior U.S. government officials and the ongoing UN General Assembly in Manhattan.

According to the agency, investigators uncovered a sophisticated network of over 300 SIM servers and 100,000 SIM cards hidden across multiple sites. The devices were allegedly being used to make anonymous threats, disrupt cell towers, and enable encrypted communications between criminal groups and nation-state actors.

“The potential for disruption to our country’s telecommunications posed by this network of devices cannot be overstated,” warned Secret Service Director Sean Curran.

Officials said the devices were concentrated within a 35-mile radius of the UN summit venue, where world leaders are currently gathered. The discovery raised alarm given the timing, location, and potential to cripple communications in New York City.

The operation was led by the agency’s Advanced Threat Interdiction Unit, with support from the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, ODNI, NYPD, and other partners.

Forensic analysis is still underway, but early findings show direct links between foreign state actors and individuals already known to U.S. law enforcement.

The Secret Service stressed that its protective mission is focused on prevention. Curran added: “This investigation makes it clear to potential bad actors that imminent threats to our protectees will be immediately investigated, tracked down, and dismantled.”

The investigation remains ongoing.