Europol announced the shutdown of Matrix, a sophisticated encrypted messaging app created to facilitate criminal activities. Described as “made by criminals for criminals,” Matrix operated on an invite-only basis, with 40 servers spread across multiple countries.
Authorities discovered the app on the phone of a criminal involved in the 2021 murder of a Dutch journalist. Access required a six-month subscription costing €1,300 to €1,600, which allowed features like video calls, transaction tracking, and anonymous internet use.
Intercepted Messages Reveal Extensive Criminal Activities
Law enforcement monitored Matrix for three months, deciphering over 2.3 million messages in 33 languages. These messages connected users to international drug and arms trafficking, as well as money laundering, Europol reported.
The operation, involving authorities from the Netherlands, France, Lithuania, Italy, and Spain, seized €145,000 in cash and half a million euros in cryptocurrencies. Arrests took place in France and Spain, with house searches in Lithuania. Authorities dismantled main servers located in France and Germany.
Europol noted that criminals increasingly use both encrypted messaging apps and cybercriminal marketplaces. Recent takedowns of platforms like Ghost, Exclu, and EncroChat illustrate ongoing efforts to combat these networks.
“Criminals wrongly believe they can operate in secrecy,” Dutch police stated, highlighting the continued fight against organized crime’s technological advancements.