International prosecutors say that investigations triggered by the cracking of encrypted phones three years ago have so far led to more than 6,500 arrests worldwide and the seizure of hundreds of tons of drugs
By
MIKE CORDER Associated Press
June 27, 2023, 6:51 AM ET
3 min read
THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- Investigations triggered by the cracking of encrypted phones three years ago have so far led to more than 6,500 arrests worldwide and the seizure of hundreds of tons of drugs, French, Dutch and European Union prosecutors said Tuesday.
The announcement underscored the staggering scale of criminality mainly drugs and arms smuggling and money laundering that was uncovered as a result of police and prosecutors effectively listening in to criminals using encrypted EncroChat phones.
It helped to prevent violent attacks, attempted murders, corruption and large-scale drug transports, as well as obtain large-scale information on organised crime, European Union police and judicial cooperation agencies Europol and Eurojust said in a statement.
The French and Dutch investigation gained access to more than 115 million encrypted communications between some 60,000 criminals via servers in the northern French town of Roubaix, prosecutors said at a news conference in the nearby city of Lille.
As a result, 6,558 suspects have been arrested worldwide, including 197 high-value targets. Seized drugs included 30.5 million pills, 103.5 metric tons (114 tons) of cocaine, 163.4 metric tons (180 tons) of cannabis and 3.3 metric tons (3.6 tons) of heroin. The investigations also led to nearly 740 million euros ($809 million) in cash being recovered and assets or bank accounts worth another 154 million euros ($168 million) frozen.
Police announced in 2020 they had cracked the encryption of EncroChat phones and effectively listened in on criminal gangs.
EncroChat sold phones for around 1,000 euros ($1,094) worldwide and offered subscriptions with global coverage for 1,500 euros ($1,641) per six months. The devices were marketed as offering complete anonymity and were said to be untraceable and easy to erase if a user was arrested.
French law enforcement authorities launched investigations into the company operating EncroChat in 2017. The probe led to a device being installed that was able to evade the phones' encryption and gain access to users' communications.
Authorities also have identified and detained some of the alleged leaders of the EncroChat provider, Carole Etienne, chief prosecutor at the judicial tribunal of Lille, told reporters.
Three people were arrested on June 22 in Spain and handed over to France on the basis of European arrest warrants," she said. "Other individuals have been located outside the European Union and have not yet been charged.
EncroChat is not the only secret communications network used by criminals that have been infiltrated by law enforcement authorities.
In March 2021, Belgian police arrested dozens of people and seized more than 17 metric tons (18.7 tons) of cocaine after cracking another encrypted chat system, called Sky ECC.
The FBI and other law enforcement agencies went a step further and created an encrypted service ANOM that was marketed to criminals in a global sting that led to the arrest of more than 800 suspects and seizure of more than 32 metric tons (35.2 tons) of drugs, including cocaine, cannabis, amphetamines and methamphetamines.
See the original post here:
A 3-year probe of encrypted phones led to the seizure of hundreds of tons of drugs, prosecutors say - ABC News
- WhatsApp overhauling status tab with encrypted Snapchat Stories-like feature - 9 to 5 Mac [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2017]
- GOP demands inquiry into EPA use of encrypted messaging apps - CNET [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2017]
- Encryption Apps Help White House Staffers Leakand Maybe Break the Law - WIRED [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2017]
- World Wide Web Creator Calls for Internet Decentralization & Encryption - The Data Center Journal [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2017]
- What It Means to Have an 'Adult' Conversation on Encryption - Pacific Standard [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2017]
- Confide in me! Encryption app leaks sensitive info from Washington DC - SC Magazine UK [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2017]
- Gmail v7.2 Prepares to Add Support for S/MIME Enhanced Encryption - XDA Developers (blog) [Last Updated On: February 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 26th, 2017]
- Top 6 Data Encryption Solutions - The Merkle [Last Updated On: February 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 26th, 2017]
- Your Guide to the Encryption Debate - Consumer Reports - ConsumerReports.org [Last Updated On: February 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 26th, 2017]
- Google helps put aging SHA-1 encryption out to pasture - Engadget [Last Updated On: February 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 26th, 2017]
- Decipher your Encryption Challenges - Infosecurity Magazine [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2017]
- How the Politics of Encryption Affects Government Adoption - Freedom to Tinker [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2017]
- How Encryption Makes Your Sensitive Cloud-Based Data an Asset, Not a Liability - Security Intelligence (blog) [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2017]
- Set up VMware VM Encryption for hypervisor-level security - TechTarget [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2017]
- How The Media Are Using Encryption Tools To Collect Anonymous Tips - NPR [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2017]
- Encryption patent that roiled Newegg is dead on appeal | Ars Technica - Ars Technica [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2017]
- Research proposes 'full-journey' email encryption - The Stack [Last Updated On: March 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 1st, 2017]
- Database-as-a-service platform introduces encryption-at-rest - BetaNews [Last Updated On: March 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 1st, 2017]
- Encrypted Messaging Service 'Signal' Adds Video Call Option - Top Tech News [Last Updated On: March 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 2nd, 2017]
- Germany, France lobby hard for terror-busting encryption backdoors ... - The Register [Last Updated On: March 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 2nd, 2017]
- How to Send Encrypted Nudes, a Guide for the Discerning Lover - Inverse [Last Updated On: March 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 2nd, 2017]
- Ironclad Encryption Corporation Announces New Ticker Symbol OTCQB: IRNC - Yahoo Finance [Last Updated On: March 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 2nd, 2017]
- The Best Email Encryption Software of 2017 | Top Ten Reviews [Last Updated On: March 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 2nd, 2017]
- No, you shouldn't delete Signal or other encrypted apps - TechCrunch [Last Updated On: March 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 11th, 2017]
- Best encryption software: Top 5 - Computer Business Review [Last Updated On: March 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 11th, 2017]
- Encryption Backdoors, Vault 7, and the Jurassic Park Rule of Internet Security - Just Security [Last Updated On: March 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 11th, 2017]
- That Encrypted Chat App the White House Liked? Full of Holes - WIRED [Last Updated On: March 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 11th, 2017]
- What the CIA WikiLeaks Dump Tells Us: Encryption Works - New York Times [Last Updated On: March 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 11th, 2017]
- Snake-Oil Alert Encryption Does Not Prevent Mass-Snooping - Center for Research on Globalization [Last Updated On: March 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 11th, 2017]
- Customer Letter - Apple [Last Updated On: March 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 11th, 2017]
- Don't Let WikiLeaks Scare You Off of Signal and Other Encrypted Chat Apps - WIRED [Last Updated On: March 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 12th, 2017]
- BT to offer customers encryption service for data - Capacity Media (registration) [Last Updated On: March 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 12th, 2017]
- Encryption - technet.microsoft.com [Last Updated On: March 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 12th, 2017]
- Use FileVault to encrypt the startup disk on ... - Apple Support [Last Updated On: March 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 12th, 2017]
- Viber launches secret chats to go beyond encryption - SlashGear [Last Updated On: March 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 13th, 2017]
- Zix wins 5-vendor email encryption shootout - Network World [Last Updated On: March 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 13th, 2017]
- A lesson from the CIA WikiLeaks dump: Encryption works - The Seattle Times [Last Updated On: March 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 13th, 2017]
- What the CIA WikiLeaks Dump Tells Us: Encryption Works - NewsFactor Network [Last Updated On: March 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 18th, 2017]
- Panicked Secret Service Says It Lost Encrypted Laptop But It's Fine, Everything's Fine - Gizmodo [Last Updated On: March 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 18th, 2017]
- Google Cloud adds new customer-supplied encryption key partners ... - ZDNet [Last Updated On: March 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 18th, 2017]
- Preseeding Full Disk Encryption - Linux Journal [Last Updated On: March 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 18th, 2017]
- Bypassing encryption: 'Lawful hacking' is the next frontier of law enforcement technology - Boston Business Journal [Last Updated On: March 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 18th, 2017]
- SecurityBrief NZ - Gemalto introduces on-prem encryption key solution for 'highly regulated' organisations - SecurityBrief NZ [Last Updated On: March 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 21st, 2017]
- 'Always Be Concerned': US Court Slaps Down Fifth Amendment Defense of Encryption - Sputnik International [Last Updated On: March 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 21st, 2017]
- Quantum Key System Uses Unbreakable Light-Based Encryption to Secure Data - Photonics.com [Last Updated On: March 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 21st, 2017]
- Wikileaks Only Told You Half The Story -- Why Encryption Matters More Than Ever - Forbes [Last Updated On: March 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 21st, 2017]
- EPA Sued For Withholding Info On Encrypted Text Messages | The ... - Daily Caller [Last Updated On: March 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 22nd, 2017]
- Opinion Data encryption efforts ramp up in face of growing security threats - Information Management [Last Updated On: March 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 22nd, 2017]
- Bypassing encryption: Lawful hacking is the next frontier of law enforcement technology - Salon [Last Updated On: March 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 22nd, 2017]
- NeuVector Announces Container Visualization, Encryption, and Security Solution for NGINX Plus - DABCC.com [Last Updated On: March 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 23rd, 2017]
- Is encryption one of the required HIPAA implementation specifications? - TechTarget [Last Updated On: March 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 23rd, 2017]
- Paper Spells Out Tech, Legal Options for Encryption Workarounds - Threatpost [Last Updated On: March 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 23rd, 2017]
- Encryption debate needs to be nuanced, says FBI's Comey - TechTarget [Last Updated On: March 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 25th, 2017]
- Comey Renews Debate Over Encryption - 550 KTSA [Last Updated On: March 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 25th, 2017]
- UK minister says encryption on messaging services is unacceptable - Reuters [Last Updated On: March 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 28th, 2017]
- The why and how of encrypting files on your Android smartphone - Phoenix Sun [Last Updated On: March 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 28th, 2017]
- UK targets WhatsApp encryption after London attack - Yahoo News [Last Updated On: March 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 28th, 2017]
- Critical flaw alert! Stop using JSON encryption | InfoWorld - InfoWorld [Last Updated On: March 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 28th, 2017]
- SecureMyEmail is email encryption for everyone - TechRepublic - TechRepublic [Last Updated On: March 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 28th, 2017]
- Apple iOS 10.3 will introduce encryption which makes it MORE difficult for cops and spooks to crack into ISIS nuts ... - The Sun [Last Updated On: March 29th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 29th, 2017]
- How to Analyze An Encryption Access Proposal - Freedom to Tinker [Last Updated On: March 29th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 29th, 2017]
- Questions for the FBI on Encryption Mandates - Freedom to Tinker [Last Updated On: March 29th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 29th, 2017]
- Justice Department anti-terror chief keeps pressing on encryption - Politico (blog) [Last Updated On: March 29th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 29th, 2017]
- UK government can force encryption removal, but fears losing, experts say - The Guardian [Last Updated On: March 29th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 29th, 2017]
- Encryption FAQs [Last Updated On: March 29th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 29th, 2017]
- Why isn't US military email protected by standard encryption tech? - Naked Security [Last Updated On: April 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 9th, 2017]
- How have ARM TrustZone flaws affected Android encryption? - TechTarget [Last Updated On: April 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 9th, 2017]
- Keeping the enterprise secure in the age of mass encryption - Information Age [Last Updated On: April 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 9th, 2017]
- Lack of encryption led to Dallas siren hack - WFAA [Last Updated On: April 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 12th, 2017]
- Internet Society tells G20 nations: The web must be fully encrypted - The Register [Last Updated On: April 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 12th, 2017]
- Make Encryption Ubiquitous, Says Internet Society - Infosecurity ... - Infosecurity Magazine [Last Updated On: April 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 12th, 2017]
- Can we encrypt the web while giving governments a backdoor to snoop? - SC Magazine UK [Last Updated On: April 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 12th, 2017]
- Why we need to encrypt everything - InfoWorld [Last Updated On: April 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 12th, 2017]
- Hacked Dallas sirens get extra encryption to fend off future attacks - Computerworld [Last Updated On: April 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 12th, 2017]
- SHA-1 Encryption Has Been Broken: Now What? - Forbes [Last Updated On: April 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2017]
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise touts encryption tool for federal clients - The Hill [Last Updated On: April 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2017]
- Encryption on the Rise in Age of Cloud - Infosecurity Magazine - Infosecurity Magazine [Last Updated On: April 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2017]
- Lawmaker Pushes Bill That Requires Encryption by Pennsylvania State Employees - Government Technology [Last Updated On: April 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2017]
- Disk encryption - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: April 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2017]
- The apps to use if you want to keep your messages private - Recode [Last Updated On: April 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 15th, 2017]