2024-02-18 22:19:05
“There were no cryptocurrencies in the computers seized during the special operation,” the authorities told our media
Italian intelligence report: Mafia switched to electronic money, ‘Ndrangheta pays Colombian cartels with digital coins
The whereabouts of the more than 200,000 bitcoins that were reported to have been discovered during the special operation “Shipment/Virus” at the Customs Agency 7 years ago, when computers, phones and flash drives were seized, remains a complete mystery. At the time, the value of one was $2,354, the Southeast European Law Enforcement Center (SELEC) reported in late May 2017. A check of “24 hours – 168 stories” showed that the mystery surrounding the digital coins has not yet been unraveled, although the Bulgarian authorities are categorical in front of our media – “the case is closed”.
From several institutions to which we sent a written inquiry, we received verbally terse responses. The conclusion of all departments, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Prosecutor’s Office, is the same – there were no established cryptocurrencies at all.
In 2022, following a question from Democratic Bulgaria MP Ivaylo Mirchev about the fate of electronic money, then Interior Minister Boyko Rashkov replied that none had been found. The same was confirmed by Ivan Geshev, who was the head of the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office at the time. More than once he explained that during the “Shipment/Virus” no bitcoins were seized from the hacker’s computers. It was then reported that the machines had been sent to the US in an attempt to trace the fate of the large sum. International crypto publications contacted people from the team of the newspaper “168 Chasa”, which was following the topic, to ask for information about what is happening with the investigation. The reason for the interest was that if a similar volume of cryptocurrencies somehow appeared on the market, they could affect the price.
All conversations with the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office ended with the assurance that the investigation was ongoing. Today it is clear that nothing has been discovered.
Unofficially, it is known around the world that in the underground world, digital coins are now the preferred means of payment for illegal transactions. SELEC notes several reasons for this – it is difficult to track them, that is, the level of anonymity in transfers is high; international borders and legal sanctions are easily “circumvented”; the ease of use without documents, lawyers and agreements.
It is no coincidence that the Italian mafia meetings, where briefcases of money were exchanged, have long been in history. Today, this can only be seen in the movies, because organized crime groups are also adapting to modern payment systems. 6-7 years ago, for example, the “Ndrangheta”, which is the strongest and most powerful crime syndicate in the country, adopted bitcoin as an official means of payment to hide its illegal profits.
Italy’s Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (DIA) has concluded that gangs have been almost forced to adapt to online markets because of the pandemic, which has shut down much of their smuggling and distribution networks. Last year, a report by the services showed that the highest-ranking repeat offenders in Palermo had totally switched to Bitcoin, Ethereum and Monero. Less often they use Dash, Verge and ZCash. The document states that in this way it is much easier for them to transfer and hide their dark finances, as banks are highly regulated institutions, subject to specific restrictions, require identity documents, and documents are needed to approve larger transactions.
Although the heads of the Italian mafia are still considered to be criminals over the age of 70, the young additions are tasked with guiding bosses into the wilds of new technology. Proof of this is that for the past four years, drug pushers have been arrested in Sicily and flash drives loaded with bitcoins have been found in their possession. The investigation later showed that they were used in transactions where buyers were required to pay only in cryptocurrency and not cash.
According to the authorities’ investigation, the Calabrian ‘Ndrangheta used cryptocurrencies in transactions with Latin American cartels as well. Colombian suppliers have also pushed for electronic money schemes.