A man from Witzton, the capital of New Zealand, was arrested regarding an investigation under the leadership of the FBI in a global fraud of the cryptocurrency, which was claimed to have stolen $ 450 million from New Zealand ($ 265 million).
According to For New Zealand Police, the man is one of 13 individuals accused after the authorities have carried out inspection orders via Auckland, Weldington and California during the past three days.
The accusations stem from allegations that members of a criminal group are organized with seven victims to obtain large quantities of cryptocurrencies, which were then washed through multiple platforms between March and August 2024.
The US Department of Justice has accused the man under federal law, including the charges of extortion, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiring to commit money laundering, according to the announcement.
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The deception used stolen money to buy luxury vehicles
Prosecutors claim that the stolen money was used to buy luxury vehicles worth $ 9 million and spent on high -end goods, including handbags, watches and clothes, as well as services such as the arrival of the nightclub, private security and rents in Los Angeles, Miami and Humptons.
Like the accused in the local Auckland court, the bail was granted to suppress the temporary name. It is scheduled to return again on July 3.
“We have worked closely with our law enforcement colleagues in the United States in support of the investigation,” the police said. They added:
“Today’s research and arrest reflects the importance of international partnerships as criminals work across the border.”
The investigation is still ongoing.
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The encryption theft rises to $ 360 million in April
The theft of digital assets increased in April 2025, with approximately 360 million dollars stolen through 18 separate penetration incidents, according to data from Blockchain Peckshield.
The figure represents an amazing jump of 990 % of March, when the losses amounting to only $ 33 million. The acute height was largely due to the transfer of unauthorized bitcoin, which represents the largest part of the month’s losses.
On April 28, Blockchain Zachbt analyst has set a suspicious treatment of $ 330 million. The accident was later confirmed as a social engineering attack targeting an elderly in the United States, which led to one of the largest individual encryption thefts until now.
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