Secret Service Dismantles Telecoms Threat to U.S. Officials Ahead of U.N. General Assembly

The U.S. Secret Service said it dismantled a network of electronic devices in the New York area that were used to conduct telecommunications-related threats against senior government officials ahead of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday. The agency said more than 300 SIM servers and 100,000 SIM cards were seized and dismantled, part of a broader effort to disrupt potential threats to protectees. The devices were located within a 35-mile radius of New York City, where more than 150 leaders and other high-profile officials were gathering for the gathering. The operation underscores the security challenges posed by a high-profile international event staged in a dense urban corridor, with world leaders converging on the city during a period of heightened vigilance.

The UN General Assembly session drew attendees from around the globe, including attendees expected to address the assembly during the week, with President Donald Trump among those anticipated to speak on Tuesday. Officials noted that the telecom equipment could have been used to disable cell towers and to facilitate anonymous, encrypted communications between potential threat actors and criminal enterprises, a combination that could complicate protective and law enforcement operations in a crowded urban setting.

The Secret Service framed the case as a preventive measure central to its protective mission. While describing the network as capable of significant disruption to telecommunications, the agency said the operation demonstrates that imminent threats to protectees will be investigated, tracked down and dismantled. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities pursue additional leads and examine the network’s origins and operators.

The devices at issue were described as telecommunications-related threats that could compromise critical communications used by protectees, security teams, and responders during a major security event. Interference with cellular networks, officials said, could hamper command-and-control communications and coordination for protective details in a city hosting dense crowds and multi-site security deployments around the UN General Assembly. The rapid dismantling of the equipment is part of standard protective measures ahead of such gatherings, and officials stressed that the investigation will continue to determine who operated the devices and how they intended to use them.

In the weeks leading to the assembly, New York and federal authorities typically intensify coordination with foreign missions and host-city agencies to manage crowds, traffic, and the integrity of critical communications infrastructure. The scope of Tuesday’s seizure—devices found within 35 miles of New York City and thousands of SIM cards—highlights the breadth of measures security officials pursue to prevent disruptions when global leaders are present for the General Assembly.

The authorities did not disclose any identified group or motive behind the operation, but officials said the case reinforces the broader security emphasis on preventing telecommunications-enabled threats. As the investigation progresses, investigators will review procurement records, device configurations, and network topology to map how the equipment was intended to be used and to identify potential accomplices. The Secret Service said it will provide updates as warranted while continuing protective operations around high-profile events in the city and beyond.