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- NSW Police seized 52.3 bitcoins worth approximately US$4.2 million during raids in Ingleburn on May 4.
- A 39-year-old man has been charged with failure to comply with a digital evidence access order among other charges.
- A 41-year-old man faces charges of handling proceeds of criminal property in excess of $100,000 for allegedly transferring cryptocurrency.
Police in the Australian state of New South Wales He seized 52.3 Bitcoin— currently worth more than $4.2 million — during search warrants executed in Ingleburn on May 4, marking what Detective Superintendent Matt Kraft described as “one of the largest cryptocurrency seizures in the country’s history.”
Strike Force Andalusia was launched in September 2024 after the New South Wales Police Cyber Crime Squad identified a cryptocurrency wallet containing large amounts of cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin Properties suspected to be proceeds from dark web markets. During the investigation, detectives executed a previous search warrant at a Surfside residence, seizing electronic devices and approximately 7.2 grams of cocaine.
A forensic examination of those devices revealed additional cryptocurrencies. The 39-year-old Ingleburn man allegedly refused to provide access to his digital devices when arrested, leading to additional charges alongside money laundering and drug supply allegations.
The successful operation demonstrates law enforcement’s advanced capabilities in cryptocurrency investigations, according to Kraft, commander of the New South Wales State Crime Command’s Cybercrime Squad.
“Criminals operating on the dark web often believe they are beyond the reach of law enforcement, but this investigation shows that is simply not the case,” Kraft said. “Dark web markets remain a major enabler of serious criminal activity, and our investigators are actively targeting those who use them to trade illicit goods or launder money.”
Australian authorities have increasingly prioritized crypto enforcement as digital assets become central to criminal enterprises. The NSW seizure reflects broader capabilities developed by the state’s cybercrime units and the Australian Federal Police to track blockchain transactions and recover illicit proceeds.
These technical advances challenge long-standing assumptions about the anonymity of cryptocurrencies on darknet platforms. Several recent Australian cases have resulted in the seizure of millions of dollars in digital assets.
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