Ireland's Criminal Assets Bureau Confiscates Additional 500 BTC, Reaching 1,500 Bitcoin in 2026
The Criminal Assets Bureau in Ireland has confiscated an additional 500 Bitcoin linked to criminal activity, pushing their 2026 cryptocurrency seizures to approximately $92 million worth of BTC.
The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) of Ireland has announced the confiscation of an additional 500 Bitcoin, presently valued at approximately 27 million euros ($30.9 million), working in partnership with the European Cybercrime Centre operated by Europol.
This latest confiscation increases CAB's total Bitcoin seizures for 2026 to 1,500 BTC, with a current valuation of roughly $92.4 million, according to a Thursday announcement made by the law enforcement organization via social media. The agency acknowledged that Europol contributed operational coordination, specialized technical knowledge, and decryption assistance throughout the course of the investigation.
CAB declined to reveal the identity of the individual who owned the wallet or provide specific details regarding the underlying criminal investigation, stating that no additional comments would be forthcoming.
This most recent confiscation follows an earlier announcement several months ago when CAB reported successfully accessing and seizing a cryptocurrency wallet containing 500 Bitcoin, which Irish news outlets connected to an individual convicted of drug trafficking offenses.
Collins-linked Bitcoin wallet becomes active
After the earlier confiscation, The Irish Times published a report indicating that the wallet accessed by authorities in March belonged to a set of 12 wallets containing approximately 6,000 BTC previously owned by Clifton Collins, an individual convicted on drug dealing charges. According to reports, the paper containing the wallet's private keys had been misplaced.
Though authorities have not verified whether this latest confiscation has any connection to Collins, a wallet address tied to him transferred 500 Bitcoin to an unidentified address on Thursday. As of Friday, wallets connected to Collins continue to hold 4,500 Bitcoin, which currently represents a value of approximately $277 million.
According to the Guardian, Collins was taken into custody in 2017 following a police search of his vehicle that uncovered a quantity of cannabis.
Law enforcement officials stated that Collins utilized profits generated from his illegal drug operation to acquire 6,000 Bitcoin during late 2011 and the beginning of 2012, distributing the cryptocurrency holdings among 12 separate wallets. The wallet keys were stored by Collins on a single A4 sheet of paper, which he concealed inside the aluminum cap of a fishing rod case located at the property he was renting.
According to allegations, Collins' landlord disposed of his personal property following his arrest. Collins has maintained that the fishing rod case was taken before the landlord gained entry to the property.