DEA reportedly seizes Bitcoins from alleged drug dealer

Written by James Delahunty @ 29 Jun 2013 4:25 User comments (2)

Reports suggest that the Drug Enforcement Administration in the United States has seized digital Bitcoins from an alleged drug dealer.

According to Ars, the DEA seized 11.02 Bitcoins worth about $814.22 from a man who allegedly was selling controlled substances on the Silk Road online marketplace, which can only be accessed as a TOR Hidden Service to protect the true location of the server and its users from identification.

The individual in question allegedly traded pharmaceutical drugs like Adderall, Dexedrine, Vyvanse, Klonopin, Clonazepam, and suboxone.

What is not clear yet is how the DEA actually seized the Bitcoin. It could possibly have been a honeytrap where the Bitcoin was transferred from the accused's wallet to one controlled by the DEA, or the DEA could be in possession of a computer with an unencrypted wallet.

It is also unclear whether it was part of an investigation into the Silk Road, which the DEA is reported to be actively investigating, or whether the man's trading on Silk Road was coincidental.

Tags: Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration

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2 user comments

129.6.2013 16:12

Ryoohki

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Looks like the darknet is getting less and less secure these days. Its more likely this person was trading goods to someone who was actually a DEA agent. That's the only reasonable explanation just due to the nature of anything on darknet and using bitcoins as payment. I doubt they seized anything but probably received the bitcoins for merchandise they were advertising to trap this guy and are just sensationalizing the operation.

25.7.2013 12:57

s_c47

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Originally posted by Ryoohki:
Looks like the darknet is getting less and less secure these days. Its more likely this person was trading goods to someone who was actually a DEA agent. That's the only reasonable explanation just due to the nature of anything on darknet and using bitcoins as payment. I doubt they seized anything but probably received the bitcoins for merchandise they were advertising to trap this guy and are just sensationalizing the operation.

You mean investigative units are over-sensationalizing their accomplishments? Get out of here!

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DEA reportedly seizes Bitcoins from alleged drug dealer

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