U.K. police arrest ‘iconic’ criminals

LONDON — British police said on Thursday they had carried out their biggest operation ever, arresting "iconic" figures and smashing thousands of conspiracies including murder plots after infiltrating a communications service used by criminals.

The National Crime Agency said the cracking of the encryption used by Encrochat, which offered a secure mobile phone instant messaging service and was used by criminals to co-ordinate their activities, had allowed detectives across the country to make almost 750 arrests.

Two months ago, French and Dutch investigators infiltrated the platform, which had 60,000 users worldwide and around 10,000 in the United Kingdom and shared the data via Europol, allowing the authorities to monitor criminals' messages and movements.

Encrochat, which has now been shut down, had advised its users to throw away their handsets on June 13 after realizing it had been compromised.

However, British police have made 746 arrests, claimed US$67 million in criminal cash, seized 77 firearms and more than two tonnes of drugs, the NCA said.