The 2020 takedown of EncroChat, a set of encrypted telecommunications services used by criminals, never ceases to impress. Europol has drawn up an initial detailed assessment of the network’s infiltration operations, which notably led to the arrest of more than 6,500 criminals, 197 of whom were high-value targets, and the seizure or freezing of more than 900 million euros in assets.
Europol publishes the following figures, based on statements from the countries involved in the crackdown:
- 6558 suspects arrested
- 739.7 million euros in cash seized
- 154.1 million euros frozen (assets or bank accounts)
- 30.5 million tablets of chemical drugs seized
- 103.5 tonnes of cocaine seized
- 163.4 tonnes of cannabis seized
- 3.3 tonnes of heroin seized
- 971 vehicles seized
- 271 properties or houses seized
- 923 weapons seized, as well as 21,750 ammunition and 68 explosives
- 83 boats and 40 planes seized
As a reminder, the French and Dutch authorities announced, on July 2, 2020, the dismantling of a global encrypted communications network called EncroChat. A network that had been infiltrated by law enforcement after discoveries of similar mobile devices in several previous operations. At the time, investigators said they had intercepted and decrypted in real time more than 100 million messages exchanged via EncroChat since 2019, making it possible to organize the arrests.
EncroChat, a Dutch company, provided its customers with Android smartphones (in particular the BQ Aquaris X2) or BlackBerry with a deeply modified interface and components. EncroChat installed its own encryption and secure messaging programs there, the messages passed through the company’s own servers, and the GPS chips, cameras and microphones were simply removed. Sold for €1,000 each, these phones could be equipped with subscriptions with worldwide coverage, priced at €1,500 for a period of six months, and with 24/7 support. In the event of a problem, the device could also be erased remotely by the retailer.