European-Wide Operation Breaks Up Encrypted Criminal Messaging Service
Spanish National Police have participated in a Europe-wide operation that successfully dismantled an encrypted messaging service used by criminals. The operation, which began on Tuesday, 3rd December in Marbella, resulted in the arrest of two individuals in Spain, following a European arrest warrant issued by the Netherlands.
Arrests, Cash and Mobile Phones Seized in Marbella
In addition to the two arrests, authorities seized 145,000 euros in cash and 974 mobile phones during six searches in Marbella. A phone repair shop was also shut down as part of the operation, and multiple cryptocurrency cold wallets, used to fund the encrypted communication service, were seized.
Joint Operation Across Five European Countries
The operation was executed simultaneously by agents from Spain, France, Italy, Lithuania, and the Netherlands, with the support of Europol and Eurojust. The investigation was initiated after Dutch authorities discovered an alleged illegal messaging service, set up by criminals to provide secure communication services to other criminals.
Matrix: A Complex Criminal Communication Service
The illicit service, known as Matrix, was found to have a more complex infrastructure than previously detected platforms such as Sky ECC and EncroChat. Users could only access the service if they received an invitation. The platform was run on more than 40 servers installed in over five countries, with France hosting some of the most significant servers.
Investigation Reveals Serious Criminal Activities
The joint investigation team at Eurojust, set up by Dutch and French authorities, used complex technology to intercept and monitor the messaging service. The intercepted messages were linked to serious crimes such as arms and drug trafficking and money laundering.
Alerting Criminals and Accessing Messages for Investigation
Criminals using the messaging service were alerted to the interception and shutdown of the platform via a landing page. This investigation will enable authorities to access the messages for their investigations, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in combating serious organised crime.
Operational Task Force Set Up at Europol
An Operational Task Force (OTF) was established at Europol in June 2024 to support investigations into illegal activities facilitated by this communication platform. The OTF, comprising representatives from the Netherlands, France, Lithuania, Italy, and Spain, played a crucial role in monitoring criminal activity on the platform.
Interception of Over 2.3 Million Messages
The field of encrypted communications has become more fragmented following the closure of several services such as Sky ECC, EncroChat, Exclu, and Ghost. In response, criminals have turned to less established or custom-designed communication tools. During the investigation, more than 2.3 million messages in 33 languages were intercepted and decrypted.
Seizure of Cash, Cryptocurrencies, Vehicles, and Phones
The joint operation resulted in the seizure of 145,000 euros in cash, 500,000 euros in cryptocurrencies, four vehicles, and over 970 phones, demonstrating the significant impact of this cross-border investigation on disrupting criminal activities.
