Police confiscated mini cell phones behind grids-diepresse.com

The French police have confiscated hundreds of mini mobile phones with which convicted criminals continue to handle their business from prison. As the police announced, the nationwide raid called « Prison Break » was specifically tiny tiny mobile phones from China, which a company in France deliberately addressed with the indication that they are not recognized in prisons during the admission control.

The company’s website has been confiscated and data was evaluated to identify customers, it said. During searches in 66 detention centers in France, 164 cell phones were confiscated, including 88 miniature phones, the public prosecutor said in Paris. In addition, 500 mini cell phones and 70,000 euros in cash were secured in a warehouse. Investigations into illegal transactions were initiated against the dealer and two suspects came into custody.

As big as a lighter

« Here you will find all of our mini cell phones and accessories that do not trigger an alarm at the entrance control, » said the company’s website. In a photo there, a cell phone was shown in the size of a lighter.

As the police said, the phones were specially designed that they are not discovered. Investigations had shown that some of these phones were used to commit crimes such as drug trafficking, fraud or arson or arrange order murders. The confiscated cell phones would now be evaluated by security experts. The national intelligence service for prison system made it possible to identify users.

EU judicial authority informs other countries

As the EU judicial authority EuroHust announced, the French investigators found that the mini cell phones were sold worldwide. Euro just provides the relevant information to the member countries to examine whether the devices were also used in their own country. The mini cell phones are small, only have a few metal parts and have special settings with which they could easily be hidden from security controls. French investigators estimated that around 5,000 of these cell phones were used in French prisons for criminal activities such as drug trafficking, murder and money laundering. (APA/dpa)