• Press Releases
    • Submit a press release
    • Read All
  • Advertise
  • Contact us
Crypto.com Logo Crypto.com Logo
Bitcoinist.com
No Result
View All Result
  • Bitcoin
    • News
    • Price
    • Businesses
    • Acceptance
    • Technology
    • Investment
    • Regulation
    • Reviews
    • All Bitcoin News
  • Altcoins
    • News
    • Price
    • Ethereum
    • Ripple
    • Litecoin
    • EOS
    • NAGA
    • All Altcoin News
  • Tech
    • Blockchain
    • Security
    • FinTech
  • Industry
    • Press releases
  • Price
    • Bitcoin Price
    • Ethereum Price
    • Litecoin Price
    • Binance Coin Price
    • Monero Price
    • MimbleWimbleCoin Price
  • How to
    • Buy gift cards/mobile Top Ups with Cryptos
    • What Is Bitcoin?
    • Best Bitcoin Wallet
    • Bitcoin vs Ethereum
    • Why Use Blockchain Technology?
    • Bitcoin Cash ABC vs. Bitcoin Cash SV
    • How to Buy Cryptocurrency
    • Bitcoin Mining
    • Best Bitcoin Brokers
    • Best Bitcoin Forex Brokers
    • How To Earn Bitcoin
    • What is Facebook Libra?
    • Ripple and XRP: The Complete Guide
    • Bitcoin Casinos – Where, What and How to Play
  • Play Games
  • BET&WIN
  • Bitcoin Casino Reviews
  • Bitcoin
    • News
    • Price
    • Businesses
    • Acceptance
    • Technology
    • Investment
    • Regulation
    • Reviews
    • All Bitcoin News
  • Altcoins
    • News
    • Price
    • Ethereum
    • Ripple
    • Litecoin
    • EOS
    • NAGA
    • All Altcoin News
  • Tech
    • Blockchain
    • Security
    • FinTech
  • Industry
    • Press releases
  • Price
    • Bitcoin Price
    • Ethereum Price
    • Litecoin Price
    • Binance Coin Price
    • Monero Price
    • MimbleWimbleCoin Price
  • How to
    • Buy gift cards/mobile Top Ups with Cryptos
    • What Is Bitcoin?
    • Best Bitcoin Wallet
    • Bitcoin vs Ethereum
    • Why Use Blockchain Technology?
    • Bitcoin Cash ABC vs. Bitcoin Cash SV
    • How to Buy Cryptocurrency
    • Bitcoin Mining
    • Best Bitcoin Brokers
    • Best Bitcoin Forex Brokers
    • How To Earn Bitcoin
    • What is Facebook Libra?
    • Ripple and XRP: The Complete Guide
    • Bitcoin Casinos – Where, What and How to Play
  • Play Games
  • BET&WIN
  • Bitcoin Casino Reviews
Bitcoinist.com
No Result
View All Result
Illicit Betting With Cryptocurrency
Nexo

Europol Takes Down Major Bitcoin Money Laundering Network

Adam James by Adam James
4 years ago
in News, Altcoin News, Bitcoin, News teaser
0
Advertisement

European law enforcement agency Europol has taken down a criminal network allegedly using cryptocurrency to launder drug money.


Tulipan Blanca

On Monday, the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) announced that it had arrested 11 people and identified 137 suspects potentially involved in a criminal network utilizing cryptocurrencies and credit cards to launder money from illegal drug sales.

5 BTC + 300 Free Spins for new players & 15 BTC + 35.000 Free Spins every month, only at mBitcasino. Play Now!

According to reports, Europol’s operation has been named Tulipan Blanca was carried out by the Spanish security forces, which received additional support from Finland and the US Homeland Security Department. Stated Europol:

As a result of the operation the Spanish Guardia Civil carried out eight searches and seized several computers, devices and the equipment used to commit the crimes, such as money bags or money counting machines … The investigation shows that the suspects deposited more than EUR 8 million in cash using 174 bank accounts.

Europol

Europol also claimed that its investigation revealed that the alleged criminals used bitcoin to launder money, citing its increased difficulty in terms of tracking funds. However, bitcoin is actually fairly easily tracked compared to other, privacy-focused digital currencies like Monero — and Europol had little difficulty acquiring all the information it needed. Noted the agency:

BitStarz Player Lands $2,459,124 Record Win! Could you be next big winner?
Get 110 USDT Futures Bonus for FREE!

The police officers were able to find that the local bitcoin exchange was based in Finland and gathered all the information on the suspects held by the cryptocurrency exchange. The criminals used the exchange to convert their illicit proceeds into bitcoins, then change the cryptocurrency into Colombian pesos and deposit it into Colombian bank accounts on the same day.

The successful carrying out of Tulipan Blanca illustrates Europol’s continued effort to eradicate the use of cryptocurrencies for illegal activities. According to the agency, three to four billion pounds ($4.1 to $5.5 billion) of criminal money is currently being laundered using cryptocurrency in Europe alone.

Monero-mining app removed from Mac store

What is the best crypto casino in July 2022? Read our comprehensive comparison! We made deposits, played and reviewed 80+ crypto casinos to choose the best one.

Europol’s job may get tougher, however, as more individuals looking to utilize cryptocurrencies for illegal activities are shying away from the not-particularly-private bitcoin and, instead, turning to more privacy-focused, anonymizing cryptocurrencies like Monero, ZCash, and Dash.

What do you think of Europol’s continued crackdown on the use of cryptocurrencies for illegal activities? Let us know in the comments below!


Images courtesy of Shutterstock, AdobeStock, Europol

ShareTweetShareShare

Sign Up for Our Newsletter!

For updates and exclusive offers enter your email.

I consent to my submitted data being collected and stored.
Adam James

Adam James

Adam James lives in Budapest and is the Managing Editor of Bitcoinist.com. He digs Gibson guitars that sound like Tyrannosauruses, Romantic & Victorian poetry, Franco-era Spanish films, LPs, Chelsea FC, Bob Dylan, Pilot G2 10s, black coffee, video games, and cryptocurrency.

Related Posts

Reports Show Alexander Vinnik, BTC Exchange Operator Extradited To The U.S.

Reports Show Alexander Vinnik, BTC Exchange Operator Extradited To The U.S.

16 hours ago
Bitcoin

Bitcoin Is A ‘Remarkable Cryptographic Achievement,’ Ex-Google CEO Says

21 hours ago
Touadéra, a coin with Binance's logo

Binance’s CZ Visits The Central African Republic, Meets President Touadéra

2 days ago
Data Shows Bitcoin Still Highly Correlated With Stock Market

Data Shows Bitcoin Still Highly Correlated With Stock Market

2 days ago
Fintech

Fintech Firm Revolut Unfazed By Bear Market, Hires 20% More Crypto Talent

3 days ago
Tourism In El Salvador Rises Regardless Of The Bitcoin Bear Run

Tourism In El Salvador Rises In Spite Of Bitcoin Bear Run

3 days ago

Bitcoin news portal providing breaking news, guides, price analysis about decentralized digital money & blockchain technology.

Bitcoin

  • News
  • Price
  • Businesses
  • Acceptance
  • Technology
  • Investment
  • Regulation
  • Reviews

Altcoins

  • News
  • Price
  • Ethereum
  • Ripple
  • Litecoin
  • EOS
  • NAGA

Categories

  • Blockchain
  • Security
  • FinTech
  • Technology
  • Trending
  • Breaking News
  • Press Releases
  • How to

Pages

  • Contact us
  • Editorial Policy
  • Advertise
  • Crypto Prices from Nomics
© 2022 Bitcoinist.com. All Rights Reserved.
  • Bitcoin
    • News
    • Price
    • Businesses
    • Acceptance
    • Technology
    • Investment
    • Regulation
    • Reviews
    • All Bitcoin News
  • Altcoins
    • News
    • Price
    • Ethereum
    • Ripple
    • Litecoin
    • EOS
    • NAGA
    • All Altcoin News
  • Tech
    • Blockchain
    • Security
    • FinTech
  • Industry
    • Press releases
  • Price
    • Bitcoin Price
    • Ethereum Price
    • Litecoin Price
    • Binance Coin Price
    • Monero Price
    • MimbleWimbleCoin Price
  • How to
    • Buy gift cards/mobile Top Ups with Cryptos
    • What Is Bitcoin?
    • Best Bitcoin Wallet
    • Bitcoin vs Ethereum
    • Why Use Blockchain Technology?
    • Bitcoin Cash ABC vs. Bitcoin Cash SV
    • How to Buy Cryptocurrency
    • Bitcoin Mining
    • Best Bitcoin Brokers
    • Best Bitcoin Forex Brokers
    • How To Earn Bitcoin
    • What is Facebook Libra?
    • Ripple and XRP: The Complete Guide
    • Bitcoin Casinos – Where, What and How to Play
  • Play Games
  • BET&WIN
  • Bitcoin Casino Reviews

© 2021 Bitcoinist. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy Center or Cookie Policy.