Published
5 years ago on
October 04, 2018
“On darknet marketplaces and other ‘unindexed’ websites, purchases are often paid for with cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Monero, among many others.â€Allen went on to note that the HSI is being relatively successful in tracking criminals who use digital currencies to launder the profits from drug sales. Despite the ease that comes from transferring crypto value, Allen said that criminals will still need to convert their crypto into fiat and vice versa.
“Whatever monetary exchanges are made, a vulnerability is created. This is when criminals are most susceptible to identification by law enforcement by law enforcement means and methods.â€Allen went on to say:
"Utilizing traditional investigative methods such as surveillance, undercover operations, and confidential informants, coupled with financial and blockchain analysis, ICE-HSI is able to disrupt the criminals and dismantle the [transnational criminal organizations], as well as the cryptocurrency exchangers who typically launder proceeds for criminal networks engaged in or supporting darknet marketplaces."Allen discussed several forms of cryptocurrency exchanges and how they might be used for the wrong reasons including money laundering. Peer-to-peer exchanged are particularly notorious for this, startups which refuse the register as a money services business. However, national and international organisations are building up investigators to find out the best way to trace digital currencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.
"We train investigators ... in an effort to deter organizations from laundering proceeds or using cryptocurrencies to fund the purchase of fentanyl/opioids or other narcotics."References: Coindesk
