Man charged over €6.5m cryptocurrency seizure in Dublin

Two other people arrested as part of the police investigation have been released from custody

A man has appeared in court following the seizure of €6.5m (£5.6m) worth of cryptocurrency in County Dublin.

The seizure was part of an investigation into the sale of illegal material on darknet markets and money laundering.

The 23-year-old man is facing three counts of money laundering.

Two other people arrested as part of the police investigation, a 49-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman, have been released from custody.

Two vehicles were among the assets seized by Irish police

As part of the investigation, the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB) said they seized "substantial assets" including Bitcoin and Monero, along with watches worth €120,000 (£100,000) and two vehicles valued at €220,000 (£190,000).

Kevin Daniel Andrei, with an address at Drynam Avenue in Swords, County Dublin, appeared before the Criminal Courts of Justice on Thursday.

Det Garda Ciaran Byrne from the GNCCB told the court that Mr Andrei had been cautioned and arrested at Kevin Street Garda station, and had made no reply to the charges.

The three money laundering charges are that on dates between March 2021 and September 2022 that he concealed and disguised the nature and source of 42 separate Binance transactions to the value of more than €34,000, knowing them to be the proceeds of criminal activity.

Another charge relates to more than €22,000 worth of Wirex transactions whilst the final charge relates to the concealment of more than 1,800 Revolut transactions worth more than €227,000, knowing they were the proceeds of criminal conduct on dates between February 2021 and June 2024.

Mr Andrei was released on bail and is due to appear again in court on 3 October.