The National Criminal Agency (NAKA), a division of the Slovak police, has raided the premises of the state-run National Agency for Network and Electronic Services (NASES) on June 9 as part of the investigation into the suspicious equipment connected to the state computer network GOVNET.
GOVNET is a network that interconnects different Slovak government agencies.
According to the local media, the police seized wiretapping devices connected to the Govnet network and detained four individuals, including the managing director of NASES, Peter Ďurica, Ján K., head of supervision centre of NASES, and Jan M., director of the cybersecurity department. The fourth detained person is reportedly from a private sector.
The authorities initiated the investigation due to a suspicion that the GOVNET network could have been wiretapped. Some of the devices were found in the networks of law enforcement and judiciary agencies. NAKA is now investigating the devices and their capabilities.
The investigators suspect that wiretapping devices were used to eavesdrop on all governmental e-mails and phone calls, which represents a serious risk to national security. The police speculate that the espionage campaign could be the work of foreign intelligence services, or the private sector.
The government officials did not provide additional information regarding the matter, but said if suspicions are confirmed, "it will be a really serious breach of state security."