The Sky ECC chat service was hacked two years ago, revealing the privileged communication channel of the drug world. Despite an assessment reporting 3,000 identified suspects and 526 legal cases in progress, criminal lawyers feel disappointed with the results, stating that the scale of the drug trade and the number of people involved is much greater than previously thought. They argue that Operation Sky ECC has hardly disrupted the drug supply and that justice is lagging behind, as criminal gangs have changed their modus operandi.
Opposition MP stresses each file is handled separately, and Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne assures that reinforcements are planned for various sections of the federal judicial police (PJF), with 195 additional investigators being recruited in June 2022, making up 895 investigators needed to follow up on serious crime cases.
While Van Quickenborne assures that recruitment is in full swing, opposition party PTB believes there is still a lot of work to be done, with field agents asking for 1,000 investigators to be urgently recruited.
According to PTB, Minister Verlinden’s announcement of the recruitment of 1,600 field police officers provides minimal added value, as they barely cover retirements in comparison to real needs. A task force has been formed to strengthen the Antwerp judicial police through recruitment and coordination.
Two years after the hacking of the Sky ECC chat service, the privileged communication channel of the drug world, an assessment of the intermediate results reports 3,000 identified suspects and 526 legal cases are in progress.
But the picture painted by criminal lawyers of the balance sheet is however rather disappointing. “The scale of the drug trade as well as the number of people involved is much greater than previously thought. Operation Sky ECC has hardly disrupted the supply. Above all, the figures prove that justice is at hand. lagging behind, the criminal gangs having changed their modus operandi in the meantime. In addition, each file is brought to the attention of justice separately”explains an opposition MP.
War on drugs: “The Federal Judicial Police want 121 million, we give them 30”
For his part, the Minister of Justice Vincent Van Quickenborne ensures that reinforcements are planned for the various sections of the federal judicial police (PJF). “The PJF in Antwerp must certainly benefit from reinforcements, but all the PJFs in the country must be able to deal with the growing crime linked to drugs and crime in general. We will not let a few statements by criminal lawyers dictate our criminal policy”he explains.
“Since this government took office, PJF Antwerp has acquired 54 additional employees, out of a total of 466 employees in February 2023.”
In June 2022, the government decided to recruit 195 additional investigators for the federal judicial police, bringing to 895 the number of investigators missing to be able to ensure optimal follow-up of files linked to serious crime. “Recruitment is in full swing. assure le minister Van Quickenborne. “PJF Antwerp and Brussels have priority in this respect. For PJF Antwerp, 261 job vacancies were published between October 2020 and February 2023 and 118 agents were recruited, while 28 recruitments are in progress. Since this government took office, the PJF Antwerp has acquired 54 additional employees, out of a total of 466 employees in February 2023. The strengthening of the PJF Antwerp is the subject of a task force which meets fortnightly under the chairmanship of the coordinating director of Antwerp.”
“The 1,600 additional agents barely cover retirements, so the added value provided is very minimal compared to real needs.”
According to the opposition PTB, there is still a lot of work to meet the demand of field agents who are asking, as a matter of urgency, to recruit 1,000 investigators. “Minister Verlinden assured that there would be 400 investigators recruited by the end of the legislature in 2024, which remains well below what is requested”, explains Nabil Boukili, federal deputy PTB. “Finally, she announced the recruitment of 1,600 field police officers, but the feedback we have is that these 1,600 officers barely cover retirements, so the added value provided is minimal compared to real needs. “
895 federal investigators are missing to follow up on serious crime cases: “A task force to strengthen the Antwerp judicial police”
In conclusion, while the hacking of the Sky ECC chat service brought to light the reality of the drug trade and the scale of criminal activities involved, the current balance sheet seems to paint a disappointing picture. While progress has been made in identifying suspects and legal cases are underway, criminal gangs have adapted their modus operandi in the meantime, and justice seems to be lagging behind. However, the government promises reinforcements for federal judicial police, and recruitment is underway. But, according to the opposition, the real needs are far greater than what is being promised, and urgent action is required to meet the demand of field agents. The war on drugs and serious crime is far from over, and a continued effort by justice and law enforcement agencies is required to bring about a change.