An operation by French and Dutch police to hack EncroChat, an encrypted phone network used by organised criminals, has led to more than 6,500 arrests world-wide and the seizure of nearly €900 million following three years of investigation. Investigators intercepted, analysed, and shared over 115 million supposedly encrypted text messages and photographs sent by users of EncroChat, with police forces in multiple countries disrupting organised drug gangs across Europe. The operation led to the discovery of organised crime groups offering “crime as a service” including kidnapping, extortion, assassination and in some cases torture, prosecutors revealed at a press conference today. It has led to the seizure of more than 100 tonnes of cocaine, 160 tonnes of cannabis, 3 tonnes of heroin, and the seizure of over 900 weapons and over 21,000 rounds of ammunition. Europol worked with partner countries to identify messages that indicated a threat to life (TTL) which were provided as a live feed to law enforcement, including the UK’s National Crime Agency. The operation identified threats against at least one judge in an un-named country.