08.01.2026
2 min
438
The Amsterdam Court of Appeal has sentenced a 44-year-old Dutch national to seven years in prison for large-scale cybercrime involving the breach of IT systems at the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp. The attacks were used to facilitate drug smuggling and attempted extortion, and also involved the distribution of malware.
The court upheld the defendant’s conviction for complicity in computer hacking aimed at gaining unauthorized access to port logistics systems in the Netherlands and Belgium. This access allowed criminal groups to import drugs while evading customs checks and security controls.
According to investigators, the hacker compromised servers belonging to port logistics companies in Rotterdam, Barendrecht, and Antwerp. Initial access was reportedly achieved by having employees insert USB sticks containing malware into internal systems. It remains unclear whether those employees were deceived or bribed.
Once inside the network, the attacker deployed a remote access tool, enabling data exfiltration from internal databases and interception of information during transmission across the network.
During the appeal, the defense argued that key evidence was unlawfully obtained through the encrypted messaging service Sky ECC. In 2021, law enforcement agencies, with support from Europol, managed to intercept Sky ECC communications, leading to numerous arrests, including the platform’s CEO.
The court rejected these objections, stating that the defense failed to substantiate claims of procedural violations or breaches of fair-trial rights. While the defendant was cleared of one charge related to the importation of 5,000 kilograms of cocaine, all remaining convictions were upheld.
The case highlights how cybercrime has become a critical enabler of organized crime, particularly in drug trafficking. The compromise of digital systems within critical infrastructure increasingly serves as a gateway to real-world criminal activity, forcing authorities to reassess the true impact of cyber intrusions.
