The Saxony police have recently announced a significant achievement, disclosing that they successfully secured a staggering 50,000 BTC, with a market value exceeding 2 billion dollars at the current rates of leading cryptocurrencies.
This revelation was made in an official statement where they underscored their collaborative efforts with tax authorities and prosecutors involved in the case. Notably, two individuals have been implicated in this crypto-related incident – a Polish citizen and a German citizen.
This development stems from an extensive investigation led by the Public Prosecutor's Office in Dresden, the Criminal Police Office of Saxony, and the tax investigation unit of the Tax Office Leipzig II, functioning as the Saxon Integrated Investigation Unit (INES).
The probe, initiated in mid-January 2024, resulted in the temporary seizure of nearly 50,000 Bitcoins. The investigative process received additional support from key entities such as the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), the FBI, and a Munich-based company specializing in IT forensics.
As of the current exchange rate for BTC, the digital assets confiscated hold a valuation exceeding 2 billion dollars. The official statement further highlights that this marks the most substantial seizure of Bitcoins by law enforcement authorities in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Intriguingly, the cryptocurrencies were confiscated after the accused voluntarily transferred them to wallets provided by the BKA. Notably, the announcement clarifies that a decision regarding the utilization of these seized assets is pending.
Moving on, the ongoing investigation centers around the unauthorized commercial utilization of copyrighted works, as per the provisions of copyright law, and subsequent allegations of money laundering for commercial purposes.
Two individuals have emerged as suspects in this case – a 37-year-old Polish citizen and a 40-year-old German. These individuals are believed to have acquired Bitcoins using funds derived from operating pirate online portals until the conclusion of May 2013. While the exact timeline of their cryptocurrency acquisition remains undisclosed, the significant quantities involved suggest that it likely transpired during a period when the market price of Bitcoin was relatively low.
31.01.2024
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