The operation involved posing as cryptocurrency traders who would exchange darknet drug dealer's cryptocurrency for cash.
Among the items sized were:
●33 bottles of liquid synthetic opioids, over 100,000 tramadol pills, 100 grams of fentanyl, more than 24 kilograms of Xanax, and additional seizures of Oxycodone, MDMA, cocaine, LSD, marijuana, and a psychedelic mushroom grow found in a residence
●Seizure of more than 100 firearms, including handguns, assault rifles, and a grenade launcher;
●Seizure of five vehicles that were purchased with illicit proceeds and/or used to facilitate criminal activity;
●Seizure of more than $3.6 million in U.S. currency and gold bars;
●Seizure of nearly 2,000 Bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies, with an approximate value of more than $20 million;
●Confiscation of 15 pill presses, which are used to create illegal synthetic opioids; and
●Seizure of Bitcoin mining devices, computer equipment, and vacuum sealers.
The operation wrapped up today, after spending the last 4 weeks arresting the 35 suspects. But just because this operation is over, doesn't mean the efforts won't be ongoing.
“Criminals who think that they are safe on the Darknet are wrong. We can expose their networks, and we are determined to bring them to justice. Today, we arrested more than 35 alleged Darknet vendors. We seized their weapons, their drugs, and $23.6 million of their ill-gotten gains. This nationwide enforcement effort will reduce the supply of deadly drugs like fentanyl that are killing an unprecedented number of Americans. I want to thank our federal prosecutors, and the dedicated federal agents with DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, the Postal Inspection Service, and the Secret Service for their outstanding work.” said Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein.
The full press release from the DOJ can be read here.
Author: Ross Davis
E-Mail: Ross@GlobalCryptoPress.com Twitter:@RossFM
San Francisco News Desk
