😱 The FBI🇺🇸 confiscated 127,000 bitcoins worth 8 billion USD from Asian and Arab criminal groups

😱 The FBI🇺🇸 confiscated 127,000 bitcoins worth 8 billion USD from Asian and Arab criminal groups

The reason for this large-scale operation was 13,400 complaints filed by U.S. citizens who transferred money to scammers through crypto ATMs during 2025. As a result, the largest cryptocurrency seizure in FBI history was carried out. A total of 300 individuals were arrested.

⏩ The operation lasted 9 months and combined several major cases against transnational criminal organizations operating in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

⏩ According to investigators, the criminal groups operated so-called “scam farms,” where individuals were allegedly forced to participate in fraudulent schemes and extortion operations commonly known as “pig butchering.”

⏩ One of the most significant cases involved former Prince Holding Group executive Chen Zhi. In October 2025, U.S. authorities seized 127,271 bitcoins allegedly linked to him. Chen Zhi had previously been detained in Cambodia🇰🇭 and later extradited to China🇨🇳.

⏩ Raids were conducted in the United Arab Emirates🇦🇪, Thailand🇹🇭, and Myanmar🇲🇲. In Dubai alone, 275 alleged members of the criminal network were detained. Six suspects are being prepared for extradition to the United States. According to investigators, these individuals were involved in extortion, money laundering, and transferring funds through cryptocurrency services.

⏩ To support the operation, U.S. agencies involved SpaceX owned by Elon Musk. At the FBI’s request, Starlink blocked more than 7,000 terminals in Myanmar that were allegedly being used by scammers in remote areas of the country.

⏩ During the raids, law enforcement agencies freed approximately 2,000 people. They had reportedly been held in closed camps and forced to engage in phone and online extortion activities.

⏩ Authorities also announced the Operation Level Up program, which used blockchain analytics tools to identify around 9,000 potential victims in the United States and warn them before they transferred funds to fraudsters. The FBI estimated potential prevented losses at 562 million USD.

⏩ The confiscated assets are expected to be used to compensate victims.

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