Linz Albanian sentenced to 7.5 years: 116 kg cannabis exposed via Sky-ECC chat
A 31-year-old Albanian was sentenced in Linz to seven and a half years' imprisonment for large-scale drug smuggling. Sky-ECC chats provided the decisive evidence.
Drug smuggler in Linz exposed through decrypted encrypted chat
Meinbezirk.at reports that a 31-year-old Albanian was sentenced on 23 October before the Linz Regional Court to seven years and six months' unconditional imprisonment for commercial drug trafficking – a final verdict. Intercepted messages from the encrypted messenger Sky ECC provided the decisive impetus for the arrest of the previously unblemished man.
Europol tapped more than half a billion messages
From June 2019 to March 2021, Europol investigators succeeded in hacking the supposedly wiretap-proof chat service Sky ECC. In the process, the communications of all users were stored, decrypted and evaluated – more than half a billion messages in total. The criminals had written completely openly, without any codes, about drug deals, murders and other illegal activities. The evidence collected was subsequently passed on to the authorities of the respective countries. In Austria alone, the evaluation led to 214 arrests; worldwide, more than 1,000.
Smuggling runs from Albania, the Netherlands and Germany
The Albanian was arrested in Linz in May 2024. According to the charges, he was responsible for trading in more than 116 kilogrammes of cannabis, 35 kilogrammes of cocaine, three kilogrammes of speed and one kilogramme of methamphetamine. According to the prosecution, he transported the drugs partly himself during numerous smuggling runs from Albania, the Netherlands and Germany to Austria, partly via accomplices. A vehicle equipped with hidden compartments was used for the transports, amongst other means. In Austria, he subsequently sold the goods to major buyers.
Half the drug quantity struck from charges – guilt nevertheless beyond doubt
In the course of the main hearing, the quantity of drugs charged against the defendant was reduced by approximately half. Judges and jurors nevertheless harboured no doubt about his guilt. With a possible sentence range of up to 15 years, they imposed seven years and six months' unconditional imprisonment. The verdict is final.
Source: meinbezirk.at