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The acquisition of the Havana Device was executed by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) as part of a multi-year sting operation. The purchase, estimated between $10 million and $50 million, was funded by the Department of Defense (DoD) in early 2025.

The device was obtained from a grey market location potentially in the UAE, Turkey, or a Central Asian state, known for trading military-grade hardware. The device's compact size poses a significant threat, demonstrating the feasibility of a portable, non-kinetic weapon capable of neutralizing targets through walls. Its reported use in Venezuela on January 3 marks its transition into a Tier 4 Operational role.