European Cops Hack Into Criminal Chat System to Bring Down Gangs
- French, Dutch police infiltrated so-called EncroChat platform
- U.K. says police hacking led to seizure of $67.5 million
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European law enforcement agencies said they hacked into an encrypted communications system widely used by organized crime groups to plan drug distribution and violence, leading to the seizure of more than 54 million pounds ($67.5 million) of cash and expensive cars.
Investigators from across Europe, led by French and Dutch agencies, managed to intercept and analyze millions of messages between criminals planning serious crimes, Europol, the European police coordination agency, and Eurojust, an agency that oversees cooperation on judicial matters, said Thursday.