U.S. drops N.Y. fight with Apple after gaining access to iPhone

NEW YORK, April 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department on Friday dropped its effort to force Apple Inc to help unlock an iPhone in a drug case in New York after someone provided authorities the passcode to access the device.

In a letter filed in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, prosecutors said that investigators late on Thursday used that passcode to access the iPhone at issue, and as a result "no longer needs Apple's assistance." (Reporting by Nate Raymond; Editing by Sandra Maler)

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