In a historic judgment, the Brussels Court of First Instance concluded the landmark "Encro" trial on Tuesday, targeting a vast criminal network implicated in drug trafficking, arms smuggling, extortion, and more.
The trial, which began in December 2023, brought an array of charges against 128 defendants, among them participation in a criminal organization, kidnapping, and extortion. Nine of the defendants were acquitted while the remaining 119 were sentenced to between 14 months and 17 years in prison.
The number of defendants marked the trial as one of Belgium’s most extensive criminal proceedings ever.
“As one of the largest criminal trials in the country's history, its organization posed a significant challenge for the court,” read the court’s press release, adding that the verdict was almost 1,500 pages in length.
The investigation stemmed from the decryption of messages on the EncroChat and Sky ECC platforms—two encrypted communication systems widely used by organized crime groups across Europe.
French and Dutch police initially cracked EncroChat in 2020, exposing widespread criminal activities involving cocaine imports from South America and cannabis smuggling from Morocco.
Belgian authorities further expanded the case in 2021 after accessing Sky ECC data, which led to evidence of extensive drug labs, large cash holdings, and corruption reaching into Belgium's legal and logistical sectors.
The court heard over 16 months of testimony from defendants, including high-profile organized crime figures and even a Brussels police inspector accused of leaking confidential information.
Evidence presented ranged from encrypted messages coordinating drug shipments to bank records revealing money laundering activities linked to Antwerp, a significant entry point for illegal drugs in Europe.
The court’s judgment is subject to appeal.
