The U.S Department of Justice announced seizure of over $1.6 million in cryptocurrencies from hundreds of darknet drug traffickers under an investigation called ‘Operation DisrupTor.’ The operation was a coordinated international effort to disrupt opioid trafficking on the Darknet across seven countries in Europe including Canada and the United States. The release did not mention the name of the cryptocurrency seized and where the seized funds remain now.
According to the release, the seizure of the cryptocurrency was led by the Los Angeles Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement (JCODE) Task Force that made additional seizures of almost $5 million in cash and 500 kilograms of drugs worldwide.
Moreover, U.S FBI led the investigation that thwarted a firebomb attack plot involving explosives, firearms, the Darknet, prescription opioid trafficking, cryptocurrency, and sophisticated money laundering.
The release identified the Darknet market sites such as AlphaBay, Dream, WallStreet, Nightmare, Empire, White House, DeepSea, Dark Market and others but it did not mention the users behind the alleged Darknet vendor accounts that sold the illicit goods.
The operation, which was said to be the largest attempt to combat opioid trafficking and criminal activity on the dark web, lasted nine months and has so far resulted in over dozens of federal prosecutions including Canadian resident Arden McCann who was charged with drug trafficking into the United States and money laundering conspiracies.
