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| Hundreds arrested as crime comms system cracked | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A top-secret communications system used by criminals to trade drugs and guns has been "successfully penetrated", says the National Crime Agency. | A top-secret communications system used by criminals to trade drugs and guns has been "successfully penetrated", says the National Crime Agency. |
| "Iconic" crime figures were among 746 arrests after messages on EncroChat were intercepted and decoded. | "Iconic" crime figures were among 746 arrests after messages on EncroChat were intercepted and decoded. |
| More than two tonnes of drugs, several dozen guns and £54m in suspect cash have been seized, says the NCA. | More than two tonnes of drugs, several dozen guns and £54m in suspect cash have been seized, says the NCA. |
| The NCA worked with forces across Europe on the UK's "biggest and most significant" law enforcement operation. | The NCA worked with forces across Europe on the UK's "biggest and most significant" law enforcement operation. |
| Officers are said to have prevented people being murdered after covertly monitoring planned attacks and threats to life on the encrypted service. | Officers are said to have prevented people being murdered after covertly monitoring planned attacks and threats to life on the encrypted service. |
| The NCA says the Europe-wide operation, which lasted over three months and involved police forces across the UK, has had the biggest impact on organised crime gangs it has ever seen. | The NCA says the Europe-wide operation, which lasted over three months and involved police forces across the UK, has had the biggest impact on organised crime gangs it has ever seen. |
| The Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Dame Cressida Dick, whose force made 132 of the arrests and seized £13.3m in cash, described it as a "game changer". | The Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Dame Cressida Dick, whose force made 132 of the arrests and seized £13.3m in cash, described it as a "game changer". |
| She said: "This is just the beginning. We will be disrupting organised criminal networks as a result of these operations for weeks and months and possibly years to come." | She said: "This is just the beginning. We will be disrupting organised criminal networks as a result of these operations for weeks and months and possibly years to come." |
| 'Criminal marketplace' | 'Criminal marketplace' |
| An estimated 60,000 people, among them up to 10,000 in Britain, subscribe to Encrochat, which works on customised Android phones and, according to its website, provides "worry-free secure communications". | An estimated 60,000 people, among them up to 10,000 in Britain, subscribe to Encrochat, which works on customised Android phones and, according to its website, provides "worry-free secure communications". |
| But the NCA says the messaging system has been used as a "criminal marketplace" to co-ordinate the supply of Class A drugs across the world, and import weapons including assault rifles, sub-machine guns, shotguns, pistols and hand grenades. | But the NCA says the messaging system has been used as a "criminal marketplace" to co-ordinate the supply of Class A drugs across the world, and import weapons including assault rifles, sub-machine guns, shotguns, pistols and hand grenades. |
| Gangs are also believed to use the handheld devices to plot attacks on rival groups, plan ways of enforcing drug debts and arrange for money to be laundered. | Gangs are also believed to use the handheld devices to plot attacks on rival groups, plan ways of enforcing drug debts and arrange for money to be laundered. |
| Many of those arrested are said to form the "middle tier" of crime gangs while some are described as the "Mr and Mrs Bigs" of the underworld. | Many of those arrested are said to form the "middle tier" of crime gangs while some are described as the "Mr and Mrs Bigs" of the underworld. |
| In London, those targeted in the Met operation, codenamed "Eternal", are alleged to include members of "high-harm" organised crime networks with longstanding links to violent crime and drug dealing. | In London, those targeted in the Met operation, codenamed "Eternal", are alleged to include members of "high-harm" organised crime networks with longstanding links to violent crime and drug dealing. |
| Dame Cressida said: "These people are in business to make enormous amounts of money. Many of them lead a very respectable lifestyle - and definitely a high-end lifestyle in fancy houses with big cars going to... clubs and restaurants, splashing the cash sometimes, but sometimes being very discreet about it." | Dame Cressida said: "These people are in business to make enormous amounts of money. Many of them lead a very respectable lifestyle - and definitely a high-end lifestyle in fancy houses with big cars going to... clubs and restaurants, splashing the cash sometimes, but sometimes being very discreet about it." |
| The Met said that earlier this month, its detectives had identified a plot by an international drugs and firearms gang to shoot dead a member of a rival network. | The Met said that earlier this month, its detectives had identified a plot by an international drugs and firearms gang to shoot dead a member of a rival network. |
| According to the force, it managed to prevent the shooting by arresting an individual for conspiracy to murder and seizing a loaded pistol, which was believed to be the planned murder weapon. | According to the force, it managed to prevent the shooting by arresting an individual for conspiracy to murder and seizing a loaded pistol, which was believed to be the planned murder weapon. |