A man in New Jersey has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for using Bitcoin to pay Chinese suppliers of fentanyl. The operation distributed counterfeit pills containing fentanyl throughout New Jersey, with eight co-conspirators already convicted. Fentanyl is an extremely potent and deadly opioid that is illegally sold on the drug market and has significantly contributed to the opioid epidemic in the United States. The use of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in drug trafficking is increasing due to their relative anonymity and ability to evade strict monitoring. However, law enforcement agencies are employing advanced technologies and investigations to detect illegal activities involving cryptocurrencies. This sentence aims to deter drug trafficking and prevent the illicit use of cryptocurrencies. Strict laws and enforcement actions continue in New Jersey and other states to combat fentanyl abuse, which claims hundreds of lives daily. Cases like this send a strong message to criminal networks involved in drug smuggling and illegal financial transactions. Increased oversight and tougher legal measures on cryptocurrency use are expected in the future to curb such crimes.
Source: decrypt
