'High level' underworld figures are said to be fleeing before their doors are smashed in by police as detectives revealed 600 Encrochat users are still on the radar in Merseyside.
The heavily encrypted phone network is said by European law enforcement agencies to have been almost entirely used by organised criminals until it was hacked by French police in 2020. The French collaborated with police forces across Europe and detectives gained unprecedented, real-time access into the communications of some of the most successful organised criminals operating in their respective countries.
In the UK, the National Crime Agency (NCA) launched Operation Venetic in partnership with local police forces to sift through the mountains of evidence they were suddenly able to access. Merseyside Police also set up its own dedicated team as part of the operation.
