Exclu was an encrypted messaging app that was shut down after a series of international raids in February 2023. [1]
Exclu offered licences for three or six months, for €500 and €900 respectively. [1] [2]
In 2019 German police raided CyberBunker, which led to them obtaining data needed to decrypt the Exclu services. [1] Data was shared with other police forces. [1] [2]
On 3 February 2023 simultaneous raids took place on properties in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Belgium. [1] 48 people were arrested, including administrators, developers and users of Exclu. [1]
Dutch police said that arrests were based on two distinct operations. [2] The first, called 26Sambar, started in September 2020 and targeted owners and managers of Exclu. [2] They were suspected of facilitating criminals. [2] The second, called 26Lytham, began in late April 2022. [2] This specifically targeted users suspected of being involved in organised crime. [2]
In February 2023 German police announced that George Mitchell was one of five major suspects behind the network. [3]