Drug and cryptocurrency seized by the Australian Border Force.
Camera IconDrug and cryptocurrency seized by the Australian Border Force. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Police seize $1.5 million in cryptocurrency

AAPWanneroo Times

MORE than $1.5 million in cryptocurrency has been seized during a search of a Western Australian property during a drug bust.

Acting on information from the Australian Border Force, Western Australian police have now charged two people with the attempted importation of MDMA.

The charges came after 27.5 grams of MDMA tablets and 27.5 grams of MDMA powder were found in October, concealed in a children’s toy painting kit in a package sent to Perth from the UK.

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That led to a search of a property at Marangaroo, in Perth’s north, and the arrest of a 27-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman.

As part of the search, officers from the Technology Crime Service found $1,524,102 of cryptocurrency on an electronic device.

That asset has been frozen with the couple charged due to appear in Joondalup Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Matthews said the cryptocurrency seizure was believed to be the largest made by WA police.

“Using the latest technologies and digital forensic techniques we thoroughly investigate all possible methods of holding financial assets,” he said.

“The ongoing partnerships between state and Commonwealth law enforcement agencies continue to provide WA Police Force with new intelligence and new lines of investigation to act on.”

ABF’s Regional Commander for WA Rod O’Donnell said officers at the Perth Gateway Facility using x-ray and trace detection technology were seizing concealments of illicit drugs in the mail stream every day.

“Every single gram of drugs we seize means one less hit that could potentially ruin someone’s life and the lives of those around them,” he said.

“Our officers are awake to the many creative methods criminals try to import these dangerous drugs, and they will continue to do everything they can to stop them at the border.

“This is another example of how the collaborative efforts of the ABF and its State and Federal law enforcement partners are protecting the community.”

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