TL;DR
An Amsterdam appeals court has upheld a seven-year sentence for a man found to have used malware-laden USB sticks and other tools to breach a port operator's IT systems and assist a 210 kg cocaine shipment. The court rejected his claim that authorities had no right to use encrypted chat messages in the trial.
What happened
An appeals bench in Amsterdam on January 9 sustained convictions against a Dutch national for complicity in computer hacking, complicity in an extended cocaine import and attempted extortion. Investigators say the defendant facilitated an intrusion by persuading a terminal employee to plug in a USB stick containing malware; that backdoor, planted in September 2020, allowed months of remote access and enabled the group to probe for administrative credentials. Encrypted SkyECC chat logs showed the defendant guiding the break-in, discussing log deletion, and reporting problems with the intrusion-detection system. When password cracking stalled, he circulated information about a USB keylogger and urged its use. The court dismissed the defense argument that cross-border retrieval of SkyECC messages undermined a fair trial, calling the objection insufficiently supported. Judges also found the unlawfully obtained access was used to arrange a 210 kg cocaine consignment concealed in wine, using falsified paperwork and port-system guidance. One major charge—linked to an alleged 5,000 kg import—was thrown out for lack of evidence. Sentencing was trimmed to seven years because of appeal delays; the hacking tools were confiscated and the defendant was ordered to cover port remediation and legal costs.
Why it matters
- Demonstrates physical-access tactics (USB drops and keyloggers) remain effective entry points for cyber-enabled smuggling.
- Shows encrypted criminal messaging can still be used as evidence when obtained by cross-border investigations.
- Highlights the intersection of cyber intrusions and traditional organized crime logistics, increasing risks to port operations.
- Sets a legal example that employee access does not automatically legitimize outsider intrusions into corporate systems.
Key facts
- Appeal decision dated January 9 affirmed convictions for hacking complicity, complicity in extended cocaine import, and attempted extortion.
- Defendant arrested in 2021 and was previously convicted the following year.
- Investigators located a backdoor installed in September 2020 that remained into the next year.
- Malware was introduced after a terminal employee inserted a USB stick supplied by the conspirators.
- SkyECC encrypted chat records documented the intrusions and operational planning.
- The group discussed using a USB keylogger as an alternative when password cracking failed.
- The hacked access was used to organize a 210 kg cocaine shipment hidden in wine with forged paperwork and Portbase-related guidance.
- A separate alleged role in a 5,000 kg import was acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
- Judges reduced the punishment to seven years because of delays in the appeals process; the defendant must also forfeit hacking tools and pay cleanup and legal costs.
- SkyECC was disrupted in a 2021 Europol-backed operation targeting criminal use of encrypted communications.
What to watch next
- Whether the defendant will pursue further appeal to a higher court is not confirmed in the source.
- If additional suspects linked to the intrusion and smuggling ring will be prosecuted is not confirmed in the source.
- Any changes to port operator security practices or industry guidance in response to the case are not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Backdoor: A covert method for bypassing normal authentication to gain remote access to a computer system.
- Keylogger: Hardware or software that records keystrokes, often used to capture passwords and other sensitive input.
- Malware: Malicious software designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to systems or data.
- Encrypted messaging: Communication protected by cryptography to prevent third parties from reading messages without access to keys.
- Portbase: A digital service referenced in the case that is used to manage port logistics and paperwork (general term for port coordination platforms).
Reader FAQ
Was the defendant's sentence upheld?
Yes. The appeals court affirmed the convictions and the sentence was set at seven years after a reduction for appeal delays.
Did the court accept the argument about encrypted chats being inadmissible?
No. The judges rejected the defense claim that use of SkyECC messages obtained via cross-border cooperation made the trial unfair.
Were all drug charges sustained?
No. The court acquitted the defendant of involvement in a separate alleged 5,000 kg import for lack of evidence, while maintaining other drug-related convictions tied to a 210 kg shipment.
Was SkyECC taken down as part of the investigation?
Yes. SkyECC was disrupted in a 2021 Europol-backed operation targeting criminal use of encrypted communications.
CYBER-CRIME Court tosses appeal by hacker who opened port to coke smugglers with malware Dutchman fails to convince judges his trial was unfair because cops read his encrypted chats Carly…
Sources
- Court tosses appeal by hacker who opened port to coke smugglers with malware
- Dutch court sentences hacker who used port systems to …
- Inside Job: How a Hacker Helped Cocaine Traffickers …
- Hackers deployed to facilitate drugs smuggling – Europol
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