Law enforcement agencies across Europe have successfully dismantled MATRIX, an invite-only encrypted messaging service used by criminal organizations, Europol announced on Tuesday. The takedown operation, codenamed "Passionflower," was led by French and Dutch authorities.
The investigation began in 2021 after investigators discovered the messaging platform on a phone belonging to a suspect convicted in the murder of Dutch journalist Peter R. de Vries. Over a three-month surveillance period, authorities intercepted and decoded more than 2.3 million messages in 33 languages, revealing communications related to international drug trafficking, arms deals, and money laundering operations.
MATRIX, which operated under various names including Mactrix, Totalsec, X-quantum, and Q-safe, had approximately 8,000 users worldwide. Members paid between $1,360 and $1,700 in cryptocurrency for a Google Pixel phone with pre-installed MATRIX software and a six-month subscription.
The platform's infrastructure, described by investigators as technically more sophisticated than previous criminal messaging services like Sky ECC and EncroChat, consisted of over 40 servers spread across multiple countries, primarily in France and Germany.
On December 3, 2024, coordinated raids across France, Spain, and Lithuania led to three arrests, including the alleged owner and manager - a 52-year-old Lithuanian national. Law enforcement seized €145,000 in cash, €500,000 in cryptocurrency, four vehicles, and more than 970 mobile phones.
"The encrypted communication landscape has become more fragmented following the takedown of several services," a Europol spokesperson said. "While criminals are turning to less-established or custom-built communication tools, this operation demonstrates law enforcement's ability to adapt and respond to evolving criminal technologies."
The operation involved collaboration between multiple European law enforcement agencies, including teams from France, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, and Spain, showcasing the power of international cooperation in combating organized crime.
A warning message now appears on the former MATRIX website, stating: "It's not the first time and will not be the last time we are able to read the messages in real time."