Secret Service Dismantles Major Telecom Network Threat in NYC Before U.N. Assembly

Mon Sep 29 2025 01:38:44 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Just ahead of the U.N. General Assembly, the U.S. Secret Service uncovered and dismantled a vast telecom network in New York that posed significant risks to cellular communications infrastructure, potentially disrupting emergency services and national security.

As nearly 150 world leaders gathered in New York for the U.N. General Assembly, the Secret Service took action against a communication network capable of crippling cell service and emergency response systems. Spread across multiple locations, this illicit network comprised over 300 SIM servers and 100,000 SIM cards, illustrating a new frontier of telecommunications threats. Although the investigation is ongoing, officials note there are currently no credible threats against New York City.

NEW YORK (AP) — With around 150 world leaders arriving in Manhattan for the U.N. General Assembly, the U.S. Secret Service revealed it dismantled a significant and hidden telecom network in the New York area. Investigators believe this network could have severely disrupted cell towers, jammed 911 calls, and created chaos when the city was most vulnerable.

This network consisted of more than 300 SIM servers equipped with over 100,000 SIM cards, all situated within a 35-mile radius of the U.N. This represents one of the most substantial communication threats identified on U.S. soil, which could have resulted in a cellular blackout for a city that depends on reliable communication for daily activities and emergency responses.

The unfolding situation underscored a new kind of risk, focusing on the invisible infrastructure vital to the connectivity of modern cities.

A Broader Investigation Led to This Discovery

The telecom network was found as part of a broader Secret Service investigation into threats aimed at telecommunications affecting high-profile government officials. The servers functioned as banks of fake cellphones, capable of generating mass calls and texts to overwhelm local communication networks, while also masking encrypted messages from potential criminals.

Matt McCool, the agent in charge of the Secret Service’s New York office, stated, “It can’t be understated what this system is capable of doing. It can take down cell towers, so then no longer can people communicate, right? .... You can’t text message, you can’t use your cell phone.” He further noted the disastrous potential consequences had the system been used in conjunction with other events during the U.N. Assembly.

Authorities maintained there were no established plots to disrupt the U.N. General Assembly, mentioning the absence of credible threats against New York City. Forensic evaluations indicate that state-sponsored actors may have utilized this network to relay encrypted dialogues with criminal and terrorist organizations.

Upon entering the sites, agents discovered a sophisticated operation with hundreds of servers and shelves filled with active and ready-to-be-activated SIM cards, showcasing a well-financed effort that could send up to 30 million texts per minute. The U.S. Secret Service emphasized its role in proactive prevention and ensured that any threats to national security would be swiftly identified and dismantled.