Netherlands
Investigators break into hundreds of criminals’ cell phones
Keys of a backlit keyboard. photo
© Sebastian Gollnow/dpa/Illustration
In criminal circles, many resort to so-called crypto cell phones. They encrypt data – and thus evidence – in unexpected ways. But investigators have now made a breakthrough.
According to Dutch investigators, they have encrypted hundreds Phones cracked by criminals. The Forensic Institute in The Hague announced that the information discovered was important evidence in criminal proceedings against organized crime.
According to the institute, European cooperation has enabled several software systems to be cracked.
The investigators took part in the European project Exfiles. Investigators and companies from eight countries are working together to decrypt so-called crypto cell phones. These are mobile phones with special software that makes reports, calls and photos extra secure. Criminals in particular use this technology to communicate undisturbed with one another.
The investigators had succeeded, for example, in decoding a mobile phone belonging to the suspected murderer of reporter Peter R. de Vries. This allowed reports to be read, which eventually led to further arrests. The prominent crime reporter was murdered in 2021 in the middle of Amsterdam. A notorious drug gang is believed to be responsible.