The Gardaí, in a recent raid, arrested three individuals and seized about €6.5 million ($7.8m) worth of cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin and Monera. 

The Gardaí (An Garda Síochána), Ireland’s national police force, investigated “Darknet Market activities” and money laundering schemes with crypto before the arrest.

Gardai Seize Over $7m in Crypto

As part of the investigation, some detectives from the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB) raided a home in north Co Dublin and arrested two men and a woman aged 23, 49, and 32, respectively.

The officers seized crypto assets worth about €6.5m ($7.8m), luxury brand watches worth about €120,000 ($130,740), and two high-powered vehicles worth about €220,000 ($239,690) in Ireland.

The authorities arrested the two men on suspicion of committing crimes under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, which relates to enhancing a criminal organization’s capability to commit serious offenses.

Officers locked them up at Garda Station in South Dublin under the provisions of Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007.

Meanwhile, the authorities arrested the woman on suspicion of committing crimes under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010. They locked her up at the same police station as per Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

Later, they released the 49-year-old man and 32-year-old woman from custody pending the date they submitted a recommended file to the Director of Public Prosecutions. However, the 23-year-old man is still in custody.

Mullen Comments on Arrest

Detective Superintendent Michael Mullen of the GNCCB stated that the authorities arrested the three individuals and seized the assets after specialist investigators from the GNCCB conducted “a highly complex investigation into criminal Darknet Marketplace activities.

“These Law Enforcement actions demonstrate Ireland’s continued determination that this jurisdiction is not a safe place for persons involved in any form of criminality and the determination of An Garda Siochana to prevent those involved in criminality from benefiting financially from the same, irrespective of what form such profits takes. 

“I would also like to reassure the public that this darknet market, where illegal goods and services were for sale, is no longer in operation.”

In a similar development, the US and international law enforcement seized over $53 million in cash and crypto after they arrested 288 persons in a vast dark web crackdown.