Law enforcement agencies in Spain and the Netherlands have apprehended four major distributors of Sky ECC, an encrypted communications service widely used in criminal activities. The Spanish suspects, identified as the service’s leading global distributors, accumulated profits exceeding €13.5 million.

The investigation, initiated in 2019, revealed that clients paid €600 for three-month subscriptions to access the encrypted communication platform. In March 2021, Europol successfully breached Sky ECC’s encryption, enabling surveillance of 70,000 users and exposing extensive criminal operations.

Spanish authorities conducted raids in Jávea and Ibiza, resulting in significant seizures including:
– €10,000 and $26,000 in cash
– €1.4 million in cryptocurrencies
– Electronic devices and telephone terminals
– Two vehicles and luxury items worth €50,000

Simultaneously, Dutch law enforcement arrested two individuals in Amsterdam and Arnhem who controlled approximately 25% of Sky ECC’s subscriptions, generating €6.8 million in profits. These suspects maintained direct contact with the platform’s CEO.

The service operated through specially configured mobile devices, facilitating secure communications for various criminal activities, including international drug trafficking, arms dealing, and money laundering. The Spanish suspects are scheduled for extradition to the Netherlands, where the National Prosecutor’s Office is leading the investigation.