Belgium Commences Mega Drug Trial After Covert Apps Cracked

A significant trial began in a Belgian court on Monday, involving over 120 individuals accused of offenses such as drug and arms trafficking, extortion, torture, and attempted murder. This trial is notable not only for its sheer scale but also because it will scrutinize law enforcement’s audacious methods of hacking encrypted communication services to gather evidence against drug networks across Europe.

Eric Van Duyse, spokesperson for the Belgian prosecutor’s office, described the proceedings as a historic trial. The case centers on the groundbreaking actions taken by law enforcement to compromise and access data from secure communication platforms, namely Sky ECC and EncroChat. These hacked datasets were crucial in bringing charges against drug networks operating throughout the European continent.

The hearings are scheduled three times per week in the newly established “Justitia” courtroom within the former NATO headquarters. This courtroom is designed to accommodate significant trials, including those related to the Brussels terror attacks. The judges overseeing the Sky ECC trial aim to deliver a verdict by next spring. The trial’s outcome is anticipated to be a testament to the effectiveness of cutting-edge investigative methods, but defense attorneys are poised to challenge the legality of the police hacks, contending that the data used as evidence was obtained unlawfully.

Originally slated to commence in November, the trial faced delays

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