Dutch Court Convicts Trio for Aiding Criminal Crypto-Communications

In the Netherlands, three men have been convicted for selling a cryptocommunication service to criminal organizations. The court in Arnhem handed down the verdict in a case involving the provision of encrypted phone services and applications that were used for illicit purposes.

The trio managed a telecommunications company that, from 2015 to 2018, sold encrypted phones and applications allowing anonymous communication. Clients primarily paid in cash, and no personal data was collected, ensuring a high level of anonymity that attracted criminal networks.

The investigation revealed that the phones and applications sold were actively used to coordinate criminal activities, including drug trafficking. Notably, the defendants were aware that their products were being used for illegal purposes and even deactivated customer accounts when they fell into police hands, in order to hide evidence.

Additionally, two of the convicted individuals were involved in document forgery, creating fictitious invoices that were then used in the company’s accounting records.

The court concluded that the €1.2 million in earnings had a criminal origin and that the defendants were fully aware of this, having participated in money laundering. These funds were obtained from the sale of services that facilitated criminal activities.

The leader of the group, a 52-year-old man from Huissen, not only orchestrated the sale of cryptoproducts but also collaborated with another criminal organization, providing them with access to encrypted applications for crimes related to drug trafficking.

Despite the gravity of the offense, the court considered the lengthy investigation as a mitigating factor. The leader of the criminal group was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison, while his two accomplices received sentences of 22 and 18 months, respectively.