UK police seize $1.4M tied to darknet market activity

A regional UK police force has seized 20.21 Bitcoin and other assets valued at more than $1.4 million after tracing the funds to darknet marketplaces active between 2016 and 2019. Summary Police recovered 20.21 BTC, other cryptoassets, and bank funds valued at £1.03 million. Investigators traced the holdings to unnamed darknet markets that operated from 2016 to 2019. A court forfeited the assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act earlier in 2026. The recovery is the force’s largest since new crypto freezing powers took effect in April 2024. UK police recover 20.21 Bitcoin and other assets Avon and Somerset Police said on Aug. 27 that its Financial Investigation Unit had recovered 20.21 BTC, other digital assets, and money held in a bank account. The assets had a combined value of £1,032,487.86, or more than $1.4 million, when the police force valued them. Officials did not disclose the amount held in other cryptocurrencies or the bank account, nor did they identify the tokens involved. Earlier in 2026, a court approved the forfeiture after accepting that the holdings represented proceeds from unlawful conduct. Police pursued the assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act, which allows aut...