Dutch cocaine trafficking suspects caught after using FBI’s chat app in court today

Eight suspects will stand trial starting Wednesday in a criminal case that mainly revolves around the use of a messaging app that was developed on behalf of the FBI. The American investigative service was able to read along as the eight communicated about importing cocaine, according to the Dutch Public Prosecution Service (OM).

The eight used phones with the Anom app installed on them. After police hacks and infiltrations of the EncroChat and Sky ECC encrypted chat services, criminals urgently needed a new method for sending each other encrypted messages. The Anom network did just that.

However, Anom was set up by the FBI. In June 2021, about 800 suspects were arrested worldwide, the FBI revealed at the time. The eight Dutch suspects are said to have communicated openly about importing cocaine from Ecuador or Colombia. According to the Public Prosecution Service, 200 kilograms of cocaine entered the port of Hamburg in February and March 2020 hidden in banana boxes.

At an earlier pre-trial hearing, the lawyers were concerned about the use of such an app. One of the counselors compared it to observing his client 24 hours a day for eight months, without immediately having a concrete suspicion that a crime was being committed.

There were also questions about the involvement of Dutch authorities in the Anom sting. At the international press conference, authorities said that the Netherlands contributed by developing and sharing technological applications with its partners in this investigation. The Public Prosecution Service previously indicated at a pre-trial review that the Netherlands did not play a major role in this investigation.

The District Court in Zwolle has set aside five days for the case. The OM is expected to issue its recommendations for a verdict and possible sentencing on Friday.