Three years ago, investigators made a major breakthrough in the fight against organized crime. They were able to infiltrate the EncroChat criminal network, which was used by criminals worldwide. Investigators from France and the Netherlands, supported by Europol and Eurojust, were able to secure millions of pieces of data that offered deep insights into organized crime structures and activities.
Impressive results of the operation
The results of the operation are impressive. 6558 suspects were apprehended worldwide, including 197 individuals in the highest category. Nearly 900 million euros were seized. Investigators were able to crack and analyze more than 115 million conversations of about 60,000 users. This prevented numerous murders and robberies and uncovered extensive drug trafficking and money laundering activities.
Asset and drug seizures
Investigators were able to seize 740 million euros in cash and block 155 million in accounts. In addition, significant quantities of drugs were seized, including more than 100 tons of cocaine, some 30 million pills and other chemical drugs, about 160 tons of cannabis, and more than 3 tons of heroin. In addition, more than 900 weapons, nearly 1,000 vehicles, 83 boats and 40 aircraft were seized.
The impact on organized crime
The dismantling of EncroChat has shaken organized crime in Europe and beyond. Investigators were able to prevent numerous criminal activities and gain deep insights into organized crime structures through the information they obtained. The operation demonstrated that cooperation among investigative agencies at the international level is critical to success in the fight against organized crime.
The Legal Dimension
The use of data obtained through EncroChat as evidence in court cases has been questioned by defense lawyers. They argued that the collection of the data by investigators was illegal. However, the Federal Court of Justice in Germany ruled that the decrypted chats are admissible as evidence if they serve to solve serious crimes. Decisions from the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe and the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg are still pending.
Outlook
Operation EncroChat has shown that investigative authorities are capable of cracking even highly encrypted networks and thus effectively fighting organized crime. However, it remains to be seen how the legal disputes surrounding the use of the data obtained will develop. There is also the question of how investigative agencies will respond to the constantly evolving technologies used by criminal networks. It is clear that the fight against organized crime is a constant race in which investigative agencies must continually develop new strategies and technologies to keep pace.
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