Category: Iceland

Auto Added by WPeMatico

Posted on

51 arrests in wide-scale operation to take down encrypted communication platform used by organised crime groups

Source: Eurojust

Investigations into the communication platform started when authorities were alerted of a new encrypted service being used in Sweden, France, Spain and the Netherlands. Due to servers being located in France, French authorities started investigations into the platform. The platform’s robust encryption made it ideal for criminal networks to use for their activities. It was mostly used for drug trafficking but also for other criminal activities, such as arms trading, homicide, robbery, kidnapping, and money laundering.

The communication platform is a fully anonymised service. Users can purchase the solution without any personal information. The platform uses three encryption standards and offers the option to send a message followed by a specific code that results in the self-destruction of all messages on the target phone. By using multiple private servers around the world, third party or government agencies have difficulty tracking the communication solution.

As servers were found in France and Iceland, the platform was administered from Australia and Canada, and financial assets were located in the United States, a global operation against the phone service started. A joint investigation team (JIT) between authorities from France and the United States was set up at Eurojust, the second-ever JIT with the United States. This allowed them to exchange information and evidence in real time. Authorities from the Netherlands, Sweden, Canada and Australia were also involved in the investigations. Through coordination among the authorities, hosted by Eurojust, a strategy to take down the encrypted phone solution was defined.

To facilitate investigations into the illegal activities using this communication platform, an Operational Taskforce (OTF) was established at Europol in March 2022 involving law enforcement authorities from Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United States.

A Joint Operational Centre was also established at Europol’s headquarters, where representatives from the OTF members and Europol’s officers provided support and facilitated the coordination of the simultaneous operational activities taking place around the globe.

The investigations culminated in a number of joint action days taking place across the globe against the phone service. 38 suspects were arrested in Australia, 11 in Ireland, one in Italy and one in Canada. A drug lab was dismantled in Australia and weapons, drugs and over EUR 1 million euro is cash was seized globally so far. Further actions are expected as the investigation progresses.

The following authorities were involved in the actions:

  • France: Cybercrime unit Prosecutor’s office – JUNALCO (National Jurisdiction against organised crime); Gendarmerie Nationale – C3N Cybercrime Unit
  • Netherlands: National Police
  • Sweden: Swedish Prosecution Authority; Swedish Police Authority
  • Australia: The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
  • Canada: Public Prosecution Service of Canada
  • Iceland: Director of Public Prosecution; National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police; Reykjavik Metropolitan Police
  • United States: Department of Justice; Federal Bureau of Investigation
Posted on

First Liaison Prosecutor for Iceland starts at Eurojust

Source: Eurojust

Marking the start of her mandate of three and a half years at Eurojust, Ms Kolbrún Benediktsdóttir stated: ‘I´m honoured and excited to join Eurojust as the first Liaison Prosecutor from Iceland. It is a very important step for Iceland and I´m sure that it will prove to be essential when it comes to prosecuting cross-border and organised crimes.’

From 2016 until her seconding to Eurojust, Ms Benediktsdóttir worked as Deputy District Prosecutor. In this capacity, she was in charge of the department dealing with police corruption, and a member of Nordic and European cooperation in the same field. Furthermore, she was the administrator for the department for violent crimes, sexual offences, and drug and human trafficking. Between 2006 and 2015, she served as prosecutor in the office of the Director of Public Prosecution.

From 2006 until today, Ms Benediktsdóttir was also a teacher at the Faculty of Law of the University of Iceland. From 2013 onwards, she served as substitute judge in the Labour Court of Iceland, and in 2022 became a member of the Minister of Justice’s Permanent Committee on Procedural Law. She graduated in law from the University of Law in 2005 and undertook her bar exam for the Iceland District Courts in 2008.

*The following other third countries have Liaison Prosecutors at Eurojust: Albania, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States.