EncroChat: 21 months in prison for preparing drug shipments and laundering money
The District Court of North Holland sentenced a man to 21 months in prison for preparing the import and export of cocaine and/or MDMA and for habitual money laundering. The judgment was issued on 6 November and published on 10 November.
In spring 2020, the man used EncroChat to discuss air shipments with others, including from Colombia to the Netherlands and from the Netherlands to Malaysia, Taiwan and Australia. The court found that he acted as an intermediary, arranging the dispatch and collection of the drugs.
The defence said a friend had used the account. The court attributed it to the defendant and refused a request to hear two witnesses about the user’s identity. It also found that he laundered cash and luxury goods over three years. The court reduced the sentence from 24 to 21 months because the proceedings exceeded a reasonable time.
