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Australian Police Forfeit $4.5M in Assets Linked to Cybercrime

Proceeds from the sale of a mansion, Bitcoin, and a luxury car will fund crime prevention and law enforcement initiatives.

The waterfront Beachmere home forfeited to the Commonwealth after an AFP-led investigation into suspected proceeds of crime, including cryptocurrency theft and cyber hacking. Photo: Supplied/AFP
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Overview

  • The Australian Federal Police (AFP) secured the forfeiture of assets valued at over $4.5 million under proceeds-of-crime laws.
  • Seized assets include a Beachmere beachfront mansion, a 2019 Mercedes-Benz sedan, and nearly 25 Bitcoin.
  • The investigation, named Operation Gouldian, began in 2018 following a Luxembourg tip-off about suspicious Bitcoin transactions tied to Shane Stephen Duffy.
  • Duffy, previously convicted of hacking Riot Games and fraudulently selling League of Legends accounts, is suspected of stealing 950 Bitcoin from a French exchange in 2013, though no charges were filed for this theft.
  • Funds from the asset sales will be directed to a special-purpose fund supporting crime prevention and law enforcement efforts.