French Gangsters Use ‘UberKills’ App for Contract Killings
French authorities have linked a recent contract killing to the use of an encrypted Telegram-based service dubbed ‘UberKills.’ The service allows clients to communicate with a manager who coordinates assassinations, with the victim’s information and weapons being passed to the assassin. The killing of a 19-year-old man, Abdel-Hakim B., in eastern France in April has been connected to this network, with both the victim and suspect allegedly recruited through Telegram for drug operations. The victim, a computer science student with no criminal history, responded to an online job ad the day before the killing, which offered €220 ($260) per day to supervise a drug-dealing point.
Surveillance footage and digital data allowed police to identify the suspect, 18-year-old Mohamed G., within eight days. He had traveled by high-speed train from Paris to Lyon and arrived at the crime scene by taxi. Mohamed G. was arrested at his parents’ home, where police found the clothing he wore during the killing. A woman who allegedly helped organize his travel and logistics was also arrested and charged, though she denies knowing her role in the murder. Authorities say she was paid €700, while the full fee for the killing was €2,500.
A senior police officer in Lyon emphasized that over the past three to four years, authorities have observed a significant rise in the use of apps and online networks in criminal activity. This trend, which he described as the ‘Uberization of crime’, reflects the growing reliance on digital platforms for orchestrating illicit activities. The officer noted that such methods have made criminal operations more efficient and harder to trace, posing new challenges for law enforcement.
Earlier this month, Telegram founder Pavel Durov, who is under investigation in France, accused Le Monde of waging a smear campaign against his messaging platform. Durov claimed that the newspaper had published 40 negative articles about Telegram in the seven weeks following his arrest at a Paris airport in August 2024. He faces charges of complicity in crimes allegedly committed by Telegram users, including extremism and child abuse, but was released on bail after posting a €10,000 bond.
Durov criticized the lack of communication from Le Monde, stating that the newspaper often ignored corrections provided by the platform. He described the charges against him as ‘absurd’, arguing that Telegram is not responsible for the actions of its users. In response, Telegram issued a statement asserting that it complies with EU laws and described the charges against its founder as ‘absurd’. The platform emphasized that holding the platform or its founder accountable for user abuse is not justified.
The case highlights the intersection of technology and crime, as encrypted messaging apps like Telegram are increasingly being exploited by criminal networks to organize and execute illegal activities. As authorities work to combat these new forms of organized crime, the role of digital platforms in facilitating such activities remains a critical concern for policymakers and law enforcement agencies worldwide.