PSNI charge five and carry out dozens of searches in ‘largest ever’ UK organised crime crackdown - Operation Venetic cracked elite encrypted communications network

Police across the UK have made a significant number of arrests and seizures, including hundreds of thousands of pounds in cash as part of the UK-wide Operation Venetic, which was launched in April. 

A military-grade encrypted communication system used by organised criminals trading in drugs and guns was hacked by law enforcement in one of the biggest operations of its kind.

More than 700 people have been arrested so far across the UK, with drugs worth £80 million, 77 guns and more than £54 million in cash seized.

French investigators managed to access Encrochat, an encrypted platform used by 60,000 people worldwide, including around 10,000 in the UK, for what law enforcement agencies claim were purely criminal purposes. 

The company, which charged £1,500 for an Encro device on a six-month contract, sent out a warning to users in early June to say it had been hacked by government.
This left investigators with a race against time to make the most of the wealth of information available on the platform, targeting “Mr and Mrs Bigs” before they could cover their tracks. 

 To date, PSNI searches in Northern Ireland have resulted in the seizure of 15 ‘Encro’ phones and more than £360,000 in cash.

PSNI Detective Chief Supt Andrew Freeburn said: “This has been the largest and most significant law enforcement operation ever mounted in the UK the fight against organised crime groups. It has focused on attacking their use of encrypted communication called Encro devices on which individual members of crime groups co-ordinate their illegal activities.”

The PSNI seized suspected Class A and B drugs, including 2.5kgs of suspected cannabis and cocaine, three high-value vehicles and numerous pieces of documentation, laptops as well as a number of items of jewellery and designer handbags. The PSNI also “mitigated” over 15 threats to life during the operation.

The PSNI has charged five people, four of whom have all been remanded in custody and one on High Court bail. The 44 charges range from conspiracy to commit murder, possession of significant amounts of criminal property, various drugs offences involving Class A and Class B drugs including conspiracy to import and also being concerned in the supply.

Police have also arrested a 64-year old man in the Newry area and seized a high end vehicle.

National Crime Agency’s director Nikki Holland said the breakthrough was like “having an inside person in every top organised crime group in the country”.

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