The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) of Ireland announced the successful recovery of a third batch of 500 Bitcoin (BTC), valued at nearly $31 million. This major seizure of illicit funds was achieved through strategic cooperation and technical decryption support from Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre. With this move, the country’s authorities have now secured a total of 1,500 BTC within the framework of this specific case.
CAB, supported by Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre, confirm the seizure of a further 500 BTC, current valuation of approx. €27 million.
This brings to a total of 1500 BTC representing the proceeds of crime seized by the Bureau in 2026.https://t.co/Zvc8vS7LhF pic.twitter.com/vIpUpVrrid
— Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) (@criminalassets) July 2, 2026
The origin of these crypto assets traces back to the illicit proceeds from cannabis trafficking by Clifton Collins, who bought 6,000 BTC between 2011 and 2012. Although the private keys to his wallets were considered lost since his imprisonment in 2017, Europol’s advanced forensic technology has allowed access to be reopened to these dormant wallets. This event demonstrates the growing capacity of regulatory and international agencies to track and recover digital assets on the blockchain, mitigating criminal anonymity in the financial market.
Investigations remain active as on-chain data from Arkham Intelligence confirms that nine intact wallets containing approximately 4,500 BTC still remain under the offender’s custody. The CAB’s next step will consist of moving forward alongside Europol in the technical processes to attempt to unlock the remainder of the hidden fortune.
Source: https://x.com/criminalassets/status/2072702649703473376
Disclaimer: Crypto Economy Flash News are compiled from official and public sources verified by our editorial team. Its purpose is to report quickly on relevant events in the crypto and blockchain ecosystem. This information does not constitute financial advice or investment recommendations. We always recommend verifying the official channels of each project before making related decisions.
Be the first to comment