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Men linked to Canada-based company indicted in major US drug investigation
A federal grand jury in San Diego has indicted two men linked to a Canadian company on racketeering and drug charges over allegations they helped import and distribute narcotics around the world through the sale of encrypted communications devices.
The US Justice Department says the indictment alleges that devices from Canada-based Sky Global are designed to prevent law enforcement from monitoring the communications between members of transnational criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking and money laundering.
The indictment alleges that Sky Global installs sophisticated encryption software in cellphones that allow users to communicate with each other in a closed network through encrypted servers in Canada and France.
Source: Sky ECC website
Authorities in the U.S. have extended the international police crackdown against the Sky ECC cryptophone service by indicting both the parent company s CEO and its main distributor.
Jean-François Eap, CEO of Sky Global, and Thomas Herdman, who authorities say distributed Sky Global devices until December 2020, have both been charged with a conspiracy to violate the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, aka RICO, by running an illicit secret communications network for criminals. They have also been charged with a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.