Europol has revealed that the dismantling of the EncroChat encrypted mobile communications platform resulted in the apprehension of over 6,600 individuals and the confiscation of $979 million in illicit funds.
EncroChat phones, which operated on a specially designed version of Android, offered users robust encryption, anonymity, and untraceability.
The platform’s features, including self-destructing messages, panic device wipe, tamper-proof booting, and a brute force-resistant cryptographic engine, appealed to criminals seeking secure communication.
Tens of thousands paid €1,500 for a six-month subscription, with global coverage and 24/7 support, while the phones themselves were sold for a one-time payment of €1,000.
In 2020, European law enforcement successfully infiltrated EncroChat, enabling them to monitor millions of messages exchanged between users by breaking the encryption algorithm. Collaborative efforts between police units in France, the Netherlands, and other countries resulted in the arrest of 6,558 individuals, including 197 high-value targets.
Analysis of 115 million conversations among approximately 60,000 users facilitated the identification and seizure of 270 tons of drugs, 971 vehicles, 271 properties, 923 weapons, 68 explosives, 40 planes, and 83 boats. Law enforcement also confiscated €740 million in cash and froze an additional €154 million.
The takedown of EncroChat underscores the successful disruption of a significant criminal network, showcasing the effectiveness of international collaboration and technological intervention in combating organized crime.
