US Confiscates Millions in Cryptocurrencies in Alphabay Forfeiture Case

US Officials Use Civil Forfeiture Laws to Seize Alphabay Leader’s Digital Assets and Property
The Alphabay marketplace and the investigation that followed after its demise has always been a very hot topic of conversation. The multinational law enforcement operation called Operation Bayonet culminated with the take down of both Hansa and Alphabay darknet markets. When the Alphabay went offline the police force targeted a Canadian national living in Thailand named Alexandre Cazes. Cazes was accused of being the Alphabay’s leader and as usual, because some of the crimes were committed on US soil, American prosecutors wanted Cazes extradited to the states. However, Cazes committed suicide in a Thai jail not long after he was arrested in his home.
- Approximately 1,605.0503851 BTC was seized from Alexandre Cazes and moved to a US government-controlled address.
- 8,309.271639 ETH was seized from Alexandre Cazes and moved to a US government-controlled address.
- 3,691.98 ZEC was seized from Alexandre Cazes and moved to a US government-controlled address.
- An unknown number of XMR was seized from Alexandre Cazes and moved to a US government-controlled address.
- 293.79476862 BTC was moved from the Alphabay server 3203 into a US government-controlled address.
- 43.05943697 BTC was moved from the Alphabay server 3164 into a US government-controlled address.
- 360.384477 ETH was moved from the Alphabay server 8131 into a US government-controlled Ether address.
- 11,993.15882 XMR was moved from the Alphabay server 10073 into a US government-controlled address.

More Forfeitures on the Way as US Courts Are Quite Busy These Days Dealing With Alphabay Vendors
What’s interesting about the Cazes case and the international crime sting Operation Bayonet is how much power the US and the District Court of Eastern California have over these darknet cases. Cazes was not a US citizen and the Alphabay servers and Cazes were not caught on US soil. Just because crimes involving narcotic deals took place in America, weirdly enough, the US seemingly has the right above anyone to seize Cazes’ property, and charge him and his accomplices in US trials. Cazes was charged by the US authorities for money laundering, drug trafficking, conspiracy, and many more charges but prosecutors will never see a trial now because he took his life. However, the Fresno courthouse is charging many other Alphabay vendors this month for a wide range of criminal charges.

The Drug War and Civil Forfeiture Laws Show a Perverse Profit Motive
There are also 3-4 other accused Alphabay vendors and Localbitcoins dealers who allegedly sold coins to darknet dealers; they too are being tried or convicted in the state of California. The US seizures of assets located on foreign soil have always been a controversial practice, and the latest Alphabay forfeitures show how the FBI and other US law enforcement entities are deeply involved in Operation Bayonet. Further, for some contentious reason, US civil asset forfeiture law gives Federal authorities the legal right to confiscate money, property, and contraband on international soil even before a criminal conviction. US authorities can even sell these assets before a trial and conviction. These seizures further confirm the beliefs of many that US officials and their international partners keep the drug war alive because there’s a profit motive involved. What do you think about the recent Alphabay forfeitures and the California courts trying many Alphabay vendors? Let us know what you think about this case in the comment section below.Images via Shutterstock, CBS, and Pixabay.
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Alexandre Cazes Alphabay Alphabay Leader Civil Forfeiture darknet market Drug War Drugs FBI hansa Kingpin N-Featured Silk Road thai police US law US Law Enforcement Vendors