- GNCCB seizes €6.5M in cryptocurrency in major crackdown on darknet-linked cybercrime.
- Three suspects detained in a Dublin raid for laundering money using Bitcoin and Monero.
- Irish authorities intensify efforts against cybercrime, targeting darknet marketplaces.
Dublin’s Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB) has successfully recovered millions in cryptocurrency and luxury assets in a major operation targeting illegal activities connected to darknet marketplaces. The operation, conducted over the August bank holiday, shows the steps in place to combat cybercrime and money laundering aided by crypto assets.
During a coordinated investigation at a residence in North County Dublin, GNCCB detectives, with support from the Armed Support Unit, arrested a 23-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman. The two suspects are believed to be involved in selling illegal materials online and money laundering through digital currencies. A third individual, a 49-year-old man, was also detained for allegedly aiding the criminal act.
The 23-year-old and 49-year-old men were arrested in Dublin on charges related to enabling a criminal organization, while the woman faced charges of money laundering. However, according to the report, the woman and the 49-year-old man have been released, with a file prepared for the DPP, while the 23-year-old man is set to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice this evening.
The inspection resulted in crypto asset holdings, specifically Bitcoin and Monero, valued at approximately €6.5 million. In addition to the digital assets, authorities recovered two high-powered vehicles, with an estimated value of €220,000, and luxury watches worth over €120,000.
The arrested individuals will be charged under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 and the Criminal Justice Act 2006. Two have been released while the investigation continues, and files are being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Detective Superintendent Michael Mullen of the GNCCB characterized the operation as part of a complex probe into the criminal use of darknet marketplaces for illegal transactions. The investigation showcases law enforcement’s increasingly sophisticated methods for tracking and dismantling cybercriminal networks.
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