Hostile States Using UK Crime Gangs as Proxies, Warns NCA Chief
The head of Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has issued a stark warning that hostile foreign states are exploiting organised crime groups to carry out illegal activities on UK soil.
North Korea and Russia at Centre of Cybercrime Storm
Speaking at Westminster, NCA director-general Graeme Biggar revealed that North Korea is using cybercrime to steal funds and cryptocurrency. He also pointed to Russia, saying:
“The Russian state has long tolerated and occasionally tasked the cybercrime groups on its territory, and had links with its oligarchs and their enablers.”
Biggar added that hostile states are increasingly deploying organised crime networks—often from different nationalities—as proxies to mask their actions in the UK.
Fraud Explodes with AI and Technology Boost
Three-quarters of fraud targeting the UK originates overseas. Biggar warned that cutting-edge AI tools, including deepfake videos and ChatGPT-generated texts, are making scams more convincing than ever.
He highlighted that technologies like end-to-end encryption are hampering the NCA’s ability to track criminals.
NCA Calls for Tech Firms to Step Up
Biggar urged tech companies to take responsibility for public safety by designing their products with security and privacy in mind. He said:
“Law enforcement needs to lead in new technology through collective vision and sustained investment. We need more effective strategic partnerships with tech firms to ensure technology works for us, not against us.”
The message is clear: without tougher collaboration and smarter tech, the UK faces a rising tide of sophisticated criminal attacks backed by hostile foreign powers.
