Sky ECC trial in Brussels: prison sentences up to 17 years for drug network leaders
The Brussels district court convicted the main figures in the Sky ECC trial to prison sentences ranging from seven to seventeen years. The case concerns large-scale drug smuggling, uncovered through cracked encrypted communications.
Prison sentences up to 17 years in Belgium's largest Sky ECC case
The Brussels district court has convicted the principal defendants in the Sky ECC trial to prison sentences ranging from seven to seventeen years, according to Belga News Agency. The case is considered one of the largest criminal trials Belgium has ever seen and concerns an extensive drug smuggling network that came to light through intercepted messages on the encrypted communications platform Sky ECC.
The heaviest sentence, seventeen years, was handed down to Abdelwahab G., an Algerian gang boss. Eridan M., an Albanian leader, was convicted to twelve years imprisonment.
Professional figures also stood trial. Lawyer Sofian B., who provided logistical support to the criminals, received a prison sentence of forty months. Brussels police officer Bernard W. was convicted of leaking information to the gang: he received five years imprisonment, of which two years suspended, and a fine of €40,000.
In total, more than one hundred defendants stood trial, coming from various interconnected criminal groups. They engaged in the smuggling of cocaine from South America and cannabis from Morocco. The networks were exposed after Belgian police cracked the encrypted platform EncroChat in 2020, followed by Sky ECC in 2021.
The verdict was delayed by 45 minutes due to a symbolic action by court interpreters, who refused to work because of overdue payments from the Ministry of Justice. "We have not yet been paid for our work in August, while payments must be made within thirty days," according to one of the interpreters.
Source: Belga News Agency