A top-secret spying operation by a European police team has sent “shockwaves” through organised crime, including Irish gangs. Senior gardaí have said that major Irish crime gangs, including the Kinahan cartel, use encrypted phones to organised drug and firearm trafficking, money laundering and assassinations. Numerous prosecutions against a range of Kinanhan associates have produced evidence regarding the use of encrypted phones in murder plots. The joint French-Dutch investigation team gained live access to millions of messages on the EncroChat encrypted network. Europol said it shared information with other countries which were not part of the Joint Investigation Team, such as Britain, Sweden and Norway.

Source: Irish Examiner July 02, 2020 17:26 UTC