Authorities have confiscated a massive 46TB of data from an employee at the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security who is suspected of leaking classified information to Moroccan intelligence services.
The individual, identified as 64-year-old Ab El M. from Rotterdam, was apprehended at Schiphol Airport last year, as reported by NU.nl. During the arrest, the suspect was found in possession of a significant amount of data storage devices, believed to be intended for transferring data to contacts within the Moroccan intelligence services.
The police have confiscated a staggering total of 46TB of information, which the prosecutor equates to '11.5 billion A4 pages'. Prosecutors allege that Ab El M. had hundreds of classified documents in his possession, according to NOS. It is estimated that it will take up to a year to thoroughly investigate the vast amount of data seized.
An investigation into the suspect was initiated by the Public Prosecution Service in October of the previous year, following a notification from the Dutch intelligence service AIVD indicating that Ab El M. had been printing classified information since at least April 2023. The AIVD also reported that he had been storing classified documents at his residence.
Shortly after the AIVD alert, the suspect was apprehended at Schiphol Airport, where he was attempting to board a flight to Morocco. On October 26, another former colleague was arrested on allegations of aiding the suspect in printing the secret documents. The colleague claims ignorance regarding the subsequent handling of the documents and is currently at liberty. El M. had held various positions at the NCTV over the years, including that of an analyst.
The NCTV is a crucial agency responsible for overseeing security and counter-terrorism efforts in the Netherlands. The implications of this breach of trust and alleged espionage are significant, raising concerns about the protection of classified information and national security.
As investigations continue, the full extent of the damage caused by the leak of state secrets remains to be seen. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining the confidentiality of classified information and the potential consequences of betraying that trust.
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