Belgian police strike blow at organized crime after interception of encrypted communications

A major crackdown against organized crime has just been carried out in Belgium. The authorities carried out some fifty arrests and 200 searches which made it possible to seize prohibited weapons, cocaine, police uniforms, GPS suitcases and more than one million euros.

An encrypted telecommunications network

The operation was made possible by the dismantling of an encrypted communications network. Clearly, the criminals were using secure phones marketed by the company Sky ECC based in Canada.

Very special devices, with classic appearance, sold between 800 and 2,200 euros, for only six months of use. These secure phones allow you to send and receive only encrypted, written and recorded messages, as well as photos, and only between network users.

Antwerp, hub of organized crime

Authorities have identified a large number of active users of these phones in the Netherlands and Belgium, particularly in and around the port of Antwerp, the main gateway to Europe for cocaine from North America. South.

In total, around a billion encrypted messages were intercepted in this case, nearly half of which could be deciphered at present, underlines Frédéric Van Leeuw, the Belgian federal prosecutor. This allowed to get an idea clearer and deeper understanding of the functioning of criminal organizations, their global character, their unlimited financial resources, their unscrupulousness and aggressiveness.

Frédéric Van Leeuw, Belgian Federal Prosecutor said, this has provided a clearer and deeper insight into the functioning of criminal organizations, their global character, their unlimited financial resources, their lack of scruples and their aggressiveness.

An unprecedented operation

According to the prosecution, this is one of the largest operations ever organized on Belgian territory. 1,500 police officers were mobilized, supported by special units. The operation also made it possible to put an end to the activities in Belgium of the telecommunications company Sky ECC.