Encrochat, a messaging service previously deemed unbreakable, was decrypted by Dutch and French police in early 2020, resulting in numerous arrests across Europe.

In Berlin alone, approximately 1.6 million chat messages from nearly 750 users were intercepted during the operation against Encrochat.

Since the decryption, the cases have focused on combating organized crime, including drug trafficking, arms dealing, and money laundering.

As of June 12, 2025, the Berlin Public Prosecutor's Office is handling over 600 cases related to Encrochat, with charges filed in approximately 250 of these cases.

Out of the cases processed, 240 have concluded with charges brought in various criminal courts, while 117 cases were dismissed, typically due to insufficient evidence.

Currently, 88 cases remain open for investigation, with 85 being processed by prosecutors and 3 still under investigation by law enforcement agencies.

In total, over 600 procedures have been initiated by the prosecutor's office, with around 120 investigations closed due to lack of sufficient suspicion.

The statistics reported only pertain to individual cases and do not account for larger investigation complexes, which can lead to discrepancies with figures from the Federal Criminal Police Office.

The data obtained from Encrochat has been crucial for many prosecutions, particularly concerning drug crime, money laundering, and gang-related violence.

In addition to Encrochat, further investigations have emerged following Europol's success in decrypting the Sky ECC communication system, which secured millions of chat messages from users worldwide.

The Berlin regional court is now holding regular trials against criminals involved in drug and weapon trafficking through encrypted mobile devices.

Of the 605 cases reported, approximately one-third occurred in 2022, highlighting a significant uptick in such criminal investigations.