Cypriot Police have impounded a commercial vehicle containing surveillance equipment that belongs to an Israeli. As a result, police conducted a search of the office of the company belonging to the owner of the vehicle on suspicion violating the privacy of individuals.

The vehicle in question belongs to an IDF colonel serving in the reserves, Tal Dilian, a former head of the Technological Division of IDF Intelligence.

Three months ago, Dilian was interviewed by Forbes Magazine and he bragged about the capabilities of his company’s vehicle. According to the interview, the cost of the surveillance vehicle is between $3.5 and $9 million, depending on the equipment the client wants. According to the report, the vehicle can hack into and listen to, among other things; intercept WhatsApp calls, Facebook chats, phone calls and all the content found on one’s mobile phone.

It is technology that lets one recognize one’s face wherever one may be, listening in on one’s calls and locate one’s phone across a nation in minutes,” Dilian boasted in the interview with Forbes.

In Cyprus, authorities are now trying to determine how the surveillance vehicle got into the country and to determine if other persons connected to the company are in Cyprus.

Israel Police reports Cypriot authorities have not informed the department of the incident and Israel’s Foreign Ministry is not commenting.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)