European Cops Hack Into Criminal Chat System to Bring Down Gangs
(Bloomberg) -- European law enforcement agencies said they hacked into an encrypted communications system widely used by organized crime groups to plan drug distribution and violence, leading to the seizure of more than 54 million pounds ($67.5 million) of cash and expensive cars.
Investigators from across Europe, led by French and Dutch agencies, managed to intercept and analyze millions of messages between criminals planning serious crimes, Europol, the European police coordination agency, and Eurojust, an agency that oversees cooperation on judicial matters, said Thursday.
“Through its role as an information hub and its extensive analytical and technical support system, Europol was able to create and provide a unique and global insight on the scale and functioning of organized crime, as a result of this investigation,” according to the statement.
The unidentified group behind EncroChat became aware of the police hack June 13, and sent a warning to all its users with the advice to immediately throw away their phones.
The British arm of the investigation led to the arrest of 746 suspects and the seizure of 77 guns, including an AK47 assault rifle, and more than two tons of drugs. More than 50 high-value cars and 73 luxury watches were also confiscated, the U.K.'s National Crime Agency said.
EncroChat gave criminals a secure way to communicate via mobile phones with pre-loaded apps for instant messaging, the ability to make VOIP calls and a kill code which wipes them remotely. They have no other conventional smart-phone functionality and cost around 1,500 pounds for a six-month contract, the NCA said.
European countries have in recent years faced increased organized crime with local law enforcement agencies describing it as “posing one of the most pressing security challenges faced by law enforcement and judicial authorities.”
The NCA said some 60,000 users worldwide were on the platform, with about 10,000 in the U.K. The agency has been working with international police agencies since 2016 to crack down on EncroChat and other encrypted criminal communication platforms.
“The sole use was for coordinating and planning the distribution of illicit commodities, money laundering and plotting to kill rival criminals,” the British agency said in a separate statement.
©2020 Bloomberg L.P.
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