⚡👮‍♂ NEW - 500 Bitcoin seized in a criminal case were transferred by authorities after nearly ten years of inactivity. A total of 500 Bitcoin, worth approximately $35 million, were transferred on-chain after nearly ten years of inactivity. These funds belonged to Clifton Collins, an Irish national convicted of activities related to cannabis cultivation, whose crypto assets had previously been considered unrecoverable. According to available information, this operation resulted from a coordinated effort between the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and Europol. Clifton Collins had acquired the majority of his BTC between 2011 and 2012, at a time when their unit value was still very low. According to court records, these purchases were allegedly financed by proceeds from his illegal activities. In total, approximately 6,000 BTC had been accumulated and then distributed across 12 separate wallets, each containing 500 BTC. The corresponding private keys were printed on paper and stored physically. In 2017, Collins was arrested following a traffic stop during which narcotics were discovered in his vehicle. While he was in custody, the residence he was living in was ransacked. His personal belongings, including a fishing rod case containing the printed private keys, were reportedly thrown away. In 2020, the Irish courts ordered the confiscation of the Bitcoin assets. However, without the private keys, the authorities could not access the funds. At the time of this decision, the value of the 6,000 BTC was estimated at approximately 53 million euros. It has since risen sharply, reaching several hundred million euros. The authorities did not specify the method used to finally access the funds. In its statements, Europol referred to the use of “highly complex technical expertise” and decryption capabilities. The authorities indicate that the technique used could be applied to other wallets associated with this case. If this is confirmed, all 6,000 BTC could be recovered.