Six men charged after Encrochat messages revealed drug trafficking
Encrypted messages from Encrochat are being used as evidence in one of Sweden's first cases of its kind. Six men are charged with serious drug offences.
Encrochat messages convict suspects in major drugs case
French police managed to hack Encrochat – an encrypted communication tool used by criminal networks – and gave investigators access to millions of messages in real time. SVT reports that six men have now been charged in Sweden for serious drug offences, in one of the first Swedish cases where Encrochat data is used as evidence.
At the centre of the investigation stands a 47-year-old man from Stockholm who in May collected 20 kg of amphetamine in Sollentuna. Police surveillance officers were present and followed him over the following days as he distributed the drugs to recipients in Karlstad, Hofors and Stockholm. The man was arrested and remanded in custody, and in June the prosecutor secured his encrypted chat history.
In the messages, details are provided about where and when the drugs were to be collected and delivered. In one of the chats, the 47-year-old writes about his telephone: "They can't get shit through the phone."
– In this particular case we already had good evidence – even a confession. However, we got the answer key, so to speak, when we could see the chats, says Eva Wintzell, prosecutor at the National Unit against International and Organised Crime.
Three of the six charged men have already been sentenced to prison terms of several years. One of them is also suspected of an offence against the act on flammable and explosive materials, after 75 kg of dynamite was found in his possession.
Two further men remain in custody for particularly serious drug offences. One of them is the suspected client whom the 47-year-old communicated with via Encrochat – he is suspected of handling almost 80 kg of amphetamine.
– In the new case, information from Encrochat will be of greater significance, says Wintzell.
Since Encrochat was cracked, raids have been carried out in several countries. In Sweden, police report that information from the service has helped prevent at least ten murders.
Source: SVT