UK Police Seize 20.21 Bitcoin Linked to Dark Web Markets

Police in Avon and Somerset, England, have seized 20.21 bitcoin, along with other crypto assets and bank account funds, worth about $1.4 million. According to ChainCatcher, investigators traced the assets to dark web markets that operated from 2016 to 2019 and were later shut down by law enforcement. The seizure is the largest crypto confiscation by the force since the U.K. introduced crypto wallet freezing orders in April 2024. The power allows police to freeze and seize cryptocurrency without a prior arrest, transfer it to a law enforcement-controlled wallet, and confiscate written passwords or storage devices. Police said the markets were involved in crimes including drug supply and human trafficking, and that every transaction was permanently recorded on the blockchain, providing evidence for investigators. The assets were seized earlier this year under the Proceeds of Crime Act after a court found they represented the proceeds of illegal activity. The funds recovered will be used for community and policing projects.