- Police seized over $200 million in cash and cryptocurrency during Operation RapTor.
- Over two metric tons of drugs, including 144 kilograms of fentanyl-laced substances, were confiscated.
- U.S. prosecutors charged key operators of darknet markets using crypto to distribute opioids and hide profits.
- Investigations reveal crypto platforms and stablecoins are widely used to enable and conceal international drug and fraud networks.
A global law enforcement operation called Operation RapTor led to the arrest of 270 individuals and the seizure of more than $200 million in cash and digital assets, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The coordinated action targeted online drug trafficking networks in 10 countries, aiming to reduce the spread of opioids like fentanyl.
Officials reported that law enforcement confiscated over two metric tons of drugs and 144 kilograms of fentanyl-laced products. Authorities also seized 180 firearms, as well as hundreds of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency assets. “This historic international seizure of firearms, deadly drugs, and illegal funds will save lives,” Attorney General Pam Bondi stated.
The operation involved the Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement team (J-CODE), working together with Europol and other agencies across the U.S., Europe, and parts of Asia. Countries involved included Austria, Brazil, France, Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the U.K., and the U.S. J-CODE was established to dismantle groups using technology and the internet to traffic illegal opioids and launder proceeds.
U.S. officials charged high-profile darknet market operators, such as Behrouz Parsarad of Nemesis Market and Rui-Siang Lin of Incognito Market, for selling illicit drugs and laundering earnings via crypto wallets. Parsarad was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for his role, while Lin pleaded guilty to multiple charges in December.
Reports highlight the rise of cryptocurrencies, like the stablecoin USDT (Tether), in supporting drug and fraud operations. According to research from Chainalysis and TRM Labs, stablecoins are commonly used to pay for fentanyl chemicals and to serve criminal infrastructure. TRM Labs found that 97% of Chinese chemical suppliers surveyed accepted crypto.
In related action, messaging app Telegram recently closed “Haowang Guarantee,” a black market service tied to $27 billion in illegal transactions across Asia. Blockchain firm Elliptic described it as the most prolific crypto-driven black market online, offering money laundering and fake identification documents.
The DOJ also announced indictments against Pedro Inzunza Noriega and Pedro Inzunza Coronel in California, linking their Sinaloa Cartel operation to Chinese brokers who help launder cartel funds through crypto networks.
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