Crime
Haitian Police Bust $750,000 [US] per Month Telecom Piracy Ring
- Saturday, August 13, 2011 11:04 PM
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Haitian justice officials have executed the largest bust in the history of the Haitian National Police (PNH) giving rise to a series of warrants including an indictment of Call Direk Vice-President Charles Gentil.
On Thursday, the Caribbean telecommunications giant, Digicel, provided to the National Council of Communications (CONATEL) and the PNH’s Anti-Telecommunication Fraud (ATF) unit, localized information on fraudulent numbers suspected of circumventing normal telephonic exchange carriers and avoiding communications charges; a form of piracy known as bypassing.
The PNH ATF launched an investigation discovering two suspicious properties at Fragneau Ville and Delmas 30.
On Monday, officials from CONATEL were on hand to identify the equipment along with four judges and police officers which initiated the raid. The properties where found to have equipment typical of a bypassing operation and equipment was seized. Five arrests were made and several warrants for arrest have followed.
In total, officers of the police nationale siezed 9 simulation boxes , 11 outdoor attennas and a host of routers, power cells and regulators.
CONATEL estimates the loss to carriers, including the state, to be at $750,000 [US] per month. Investigations have led to the Vice-President of CallDirek , Charles Gentil. He is among those warranting arrest and is facing a federal indictment.
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Related 06.20.2011: National Palace Meeting to End Piracy on International Calls
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