The U.S. Secret Service announced [1] Tuesday that it had dismantled a network of electronic devices in the New York tristate area that were being used to carry out telecommunications-related threats against senior U.S. government officials.
The discovery and takedown occurred as world leaders gathered for the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.
According to the agency, the devices were concentrated within 35 miles of the assembly.
“This protective intelligence investigation led to the discovery of more than 300 co-located SIM servers and 100,000 SIM cards across multiple sites,” the Secret Service said in a statement.
The Secret Service dismantled a network of more than 300 SIM servers and 100,000 SIM cards in the New York-area that were capable of crippling telecom systems and carrying out anonymous telephonic attacks, disrupting the threat before world leaders arrived for the UN General… pic.twitter.com/sZKUeGqvGY [2]
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) September 23, 2025 [3]
Officials explained that the equipment had been used to carry out anonymous threats and was capable of more serious telecommunications attacks.
The agency noted that the devices could be used to disable cell phone towers, enable denial-of-service attacks, and facilitate anonymous, encrypted communication between threat actors and criminal networks.
“Forensic examination of these devices is ongoing,” the statement continued.
“Early analysis indicates cellular communications between nation-state threat actors and individuals that are known to federal law enforcement.”
The Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Justice, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the New York Police Department, and several state and local law enforcement agencies are assisting in the ongoing investigation.
The Secret Service has shut down a massive illegal telecom network in New York that investigators say could have disrupted citywide communications and posed a threat to the United Nations General Assembly.
Agents uncovered active SIM farms hidden in abandoned apartment buildings… pic.twitter.com/3SeGdaLmdM [4]
— Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) September 23, 2025 [5]
U.S. Secret Service Director Sean Curran emphasized the seriousness of the findings.
“The potential for disruption to our country’s telecommunications posed by this network of devices cannot be overstated,” Curran said.
“The U.S. Secret Service’s protective mission is all about prevention, and this investigation makes it clear to potential bad actors that imminent threats to our protectees will be immediately investigated, tracked down and dismantled.”
The agency explained that the location and scale of the operation raised concerns about potential disruption to New York City’s telecommunications during the U.N. event.
“Given the timing, location and potential for significant disruption to New York telecommunications posed by these devices, the agency moved quickly to disrupt this network,” the Secret Service said.
The General Assembly, which began this week, has brought world leaders and diplomats to New York for a series of meetings and speeches.
Security around the city has been heightened, with federal, state, and local law enforcement coordinating efforts to ensure safety.
President Donald Trump was scheduled to deliver remarks to the General Assembly on Tuesday.
Officials have not publicly linked the telecommunications threat to the President’s appearance, but the takedown of the device network was announced hours before his address.
Investigators are continuing to analyze the seized equipment to determine the full extent of the operation and the actors involved.
The Secret Service said further details would be released as the forensic review progresses.
The discovery of more than 300 SIM servers and 100,000 SIM cards within a concentrated area of New York represents one of the largest such networks ever dismantled on U.S. soil.