New York — The US Secret Service announced on Tuesday (September 23) that it had dismantled a massive network of more than 100,000 SIM cards that posed a potential risk to New York’s telecommunications infrastructure just as world leaders gathered for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Officials warned the devices were capable of crashing cell towers, launching denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, and facilitating encrypted communications — raising alarms of possible nation-state links.
Operation Near UN General Assembly
The Advanced Threat Interdiction Unit led the operation in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the New York Police Department (NYPD), and other state and local law enforcement agencies.
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The network was traced to an apartment just outside New York City. While no suspects were found at the location, the concentration of devices within 35 miles of the UNGA venue prompted rapid intervention.
Authorities confirmed that the disruption risk was particularly alarming given the UNGA’s focus this year on the Palestinian recognition debate and the Gaza crisis, with global leaders including US President Donald Trump scheduled to deliver speeches.
Capabilities of the Devices
In a statement, the Secret Service outlined the threat posed by the devices:
“In addition to carrying out anonymous telephonic threats, these devices could be used to conduct a wide range of telecommunications attacks. This includes disabling cell phone towers, enabling denial-of-service attacks, and facilitating anonymous, encrypted communication between potential threat actors and criminal enterprises.”
Investigators are probing whether the operation was linked to organized cybercriminal groups or foreign intelligence agencies.
UNGA Technical Glitches Raise Questions
The revelation comes just a day after technical malfunctions at the UNGA on September 22 disrupted speeches by multiple world leaders, including Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto.
Microphone failures forced pauses during key addresses, leading to speculation about possible interference. UN staff, however, attributed the issues to equipment faults, insisting there was “no indication” of deliberate sabotage.
Active Investigation and Security Concerns
The dismantling of the SIM card network underscores growing concerns about telecommunications vulnerabilities during high-profile international events. Law enforcement officials have confirmed that the investigation remains ongoing, with a focus on tracking the origins of the devices and possible links to nation-state actors or criminal enterprises.
Cybersecurity experts warn that SIM-based exploits represent a dangerous frontier in cyber-enabled threats, capable of not only disrupting services but also shielding communications among adversaries. The Secret Service has pledged to maintain heightened vigilance throughout the UNGA proceedings.
