Dark Secrets: How Encrypted Comms Boosted Organised Crime in the Balkans
Encrypted communication platforms and specialized secure devices have significantly facilitated the operations of criminal groups in the Balkans, enabling them to organize trafficking routes and process payments undetected. Despite law enforcement successes in breaking into some of these systems, criminals swiftly move to new technologies.
Contested Evidence in Montenegro Trial
During the October trial in Montenegro involving the alleged Radoje Zvicer crime group, a crucial debate emerged regarding the reliability of evidence from the cracked Sky ECC encrypted messaging app. The app had previously been compromised by international police forces, leading to numerous arrests across Europe.
“In my 30-year career, I have never been tasked with examining weapons solely based on photographs,”
stated ballistics expert Milovan Mihailovic to the Higher Court in Podgorica. He clarified that he lacked physical access to the weapons displayed in the photos and did not know who had taken the images.
Arguments from Defence and Prosecution
Defence lawyers argued that photo-based evidence is legally insufficient and should be dismissed from the case, calling it an approach “unprecedented in Montenegrin courts.” Meanwhile, prosecutors insisted that the photographs had been obtained lawfully and remain valid in court proceedings. The court has yet to deliver a final ruling on whether the images will be admissible as evidence.
Author’s Summary
Encrypted apps like Sky ECC have revolutionized organized crime in the Balkans, complicating legal processes as courts struggle with the legitimacy of digital evidence.