800 arrests after crime ‘enigma code’ is cracked

The UK’s National Crime Agency and police have struck the biggest blow against organised crime in decades by infiltrating an encrypted phone network used for trafficking drugs and firearms. Intelligence from Encrochat, which had been used by about 10,000 criminals in Britain to co-ordinate their activities, is expected to bring down previously untouchable figures. Almost 800 criminals in Britain have already been arrested after French officials hacked the platform two months ago and passed secret messages on it to the NCA. Up to 200 potential gangland murders have been thwarted, while £54 million (NZ$103m) in cash, 77 firearms and two tonnes of drugs have been seized. The encrypted system, developed in the Netherlands, had features such as selfdestructing messages and claimed to be the most secure in the world.