One year after the hack of the encrypted Sky ECC network, 276 new investigations have been opened and 888 suspects identified, according to the federal public prosecutor.
An existing 118 files that were already in progress saw additional information added as a result of the decrypted messages, De Morgen reports.
Detectives also seized more than 90 tonnes of drugs with a street value of €4.5 billion, along with additional money and goods worth almost €60 million.
In March 2021, Belgian, Dutch and French police cracked Sky ECC's encrypted messaging service, allowing police to read 80 million messages over the shoulders of criminals.
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Intercepted messages from criminals have become an important part of police investigations in recent years, increasingly used by the judiciary in major crime cases.
Just last month, investigators were able to round up a criminal organisation that had imported almost 11 tonnes of cocaine through the port of Antwerp.
During the judicial investigation, which is now in its final phase, 52 house searches were carried out and 61 suspects were identified. Detectives seized exclusive vehicles, luxury watches, jewellery and over €500,000 in cash.
