New South Wales police confiscated 52.3 Bitcoin worth $4.2 million during an operation against darknet marketplaces.
The New South Wales police have seized 52.3 Bitcoin – equivalent to approximately $4.2 million – during searches carried out in Ingleburn on May 4, 2026. The operation, described by Detective Superintendent Matt Craft as “one of the largest cryptocurrency seizures in the country’s history”, led to the arrest of two men on charges of money laundering and drug trafficking.
The investigation had begun in September 2024, when Strike Force Andalusia – established by the NSW Police Cybercrime Squad – identified a wallet containing a significant amount of Bitcoin believed to be proceeds from darknet marketplace activity. During the course of the investigation, detectives had already conducted a search at a property in Surfside, seizing electronic devices and approximately 7.2 grams of cocaine. Forensic examination of those devices subsequently led to the discovery of additional cryptocurrency.
A 39-year-old man residing in Ingleburn is accused of failing to provide access to his digital devices at the time of his arrest, in breach of a digital evidence access order, in addition to facing charges of money laundering and drug supply. A second man, aged 41, must answer to a charge of dealing with the proceeds of crime exceeding $100,000, for transferring the cryptocurrency.
According to Craft, commander of the NSW State Crime Command’s Cybercrime Squad, the operation demonstrates the growing capabilities of law enforcement in cryptocurrency investigations. “Criminals operating on the darknet often believe they are beyond the reach of law enforcement, but this investigation proves that is simply not the case”, he stated. “Darknet marketplaces remain an enabler of serious criminal activity, and our detectives are actively targeting those who use them to trade illicit goods or launder money.”
