A 66-year-old woman from West Zealand has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for attempting to obtain 10 kilograms of amphetamine, exposed through international police operations against encrypted communication networks used by criminals.
A 66-year-old woman, Helle Karin Heidelbach, from West Zealand has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after being caught attempting to acquire 10 kilograms of amphetamine. This situation arose from ongoing international police operations targeting encrypted communication networks, which have been utilized extensively by criminals across Europe. The operation started nearly six years ago and was a significant collaboration among law enforcement agencies.
In May 2020, Heidelbach initially attempted to pick up the drugs from a courier in Jyllinge but faced disappointment when the courier failed to arrive. However, her efforts were not in vain as she later successfully met with the courier in Ringsted and retrieved the 10 kilograms of amphetamine from Sorø. During this time, the encrypted communication network, EncroChat, was widely used among criminals. French police had managed to break the encryption in the spring of 2020, which allowed them to monitor conversations and gather vital evidence.
The evidence collected from these operations made its way to the narcotics division of Midt- and Vestsjælland Police in 2021, leading to Heidelbach's arrest and subsequent conviction. The case underscores the effectiveness of international cooperation in combatting drug trafficking and the risks that criminals encounter when relying on encrypted channels.
