Results of EncroChat Take-Down
13 October 2023 (updated 2 months, 1 week ago) // Published in printed Issue 2/2023 pp 163 – 164
Riehle_Cornelia_Neu_SW.jpg Cornelia Riehle LL.M.

Two years after the dismantling of the encrypted communications tool EncroChat, which had been widely used by organised crime groups (→eucrim news of 21 March 2021), law enforcement and judicial authorities are still reaping the rewards. On 27 June 2023, French and Dutch judicial and law enforcement authorities presented a first overview of the results. Based on the information retrieved from the dismantled tool, investigators managed to intercept, share, and analyse over 115 million criminal conversations involving an estimated number of over 60,000 users worldwide. After more than 6500 arrests worldwide and close to €900 million seized in criminal funds, the take-down of EncroChat can be considered a major success in countering organised crime. In total, courts convicted criminal to 7134 years of imprisonment up to now. The press release on the first results of the EncroChat operation also provides background information about the dismantling process and the law enforcement cooperation also involving Eurojust and Europol.

News Guide

EU Europol Eurojust Organised Crime Law Enforcement Cooperation

Author

Riehle_Cornelia_Neu_SW.jpg
Cornelia Riehle LL.M.

Institution:
Academy of European Law (ERA)

Department:
Criminal Law

Position:
Deputy Head of Section