Hold onto your hats, because this one's a doozy! The Australian Federal Police, or AFP for those in the know, just pulled off a digital heist of epic proportions, snagging a mind-boggling $9.3 million in cryptocurrency. It's all part of their quest to take down the elusive Ghost platform, a shadowy corner of the internet where bad guys like to hang out.
In a plot that feels like it's ripped straight from a spy novel, a 32-year-old from Narwee found himself in handcuffs on September 17. This was thanks to the sharp minds at the AFP who, as part of their top-secret Operation Kraken, nailed him with charges of supporting a criminal organization.
But here's where it gets juicy. An analytics wizard at the Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT) cracked the code—literally! They managed to unlock the suspect's cryptocurrency treasure chest by deciphering his seed phrase, leading to the massive seizure. High-fives all around for the second big score in Operation Kraken!
Operation Kraken isn't just about the moolah. It's also racked up 46 arrests, executed 93 search warrants, foiled 50 potentially deadly plots, and seized 200 kilograms of illegal goodies, not to mention $2.37 million in cash. Talk about cleaning house!
The CACT, a crime-fighting dream team formed in 2012, brings together the brainpower of the AFP, the Australian Taxation Office, AUSTRAC, and other agencies to track down and snatch up criminal assets. Since 2019, they've put the brakes on over $1.1 billion in dirty money.
AFP's acting Commander Scott Raven had a mic-drop moment, declaring, “We've got the skills and the muscle to track down your shady stash, whether it's hidden in real estate, cryptocurrency, or cash. Try as you might to hide it, we'll find it and leave you with zilch!” Now that's what I call justice!
