coindesk.com
Federal agents in Miami seized more than $10 million in cryptocurrency linked to Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, the Justice Department announced Wednesday.
The seizure, part of a coordinated operation between the DEA and FBI, targeted funds allegedly connected to the trafficking of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids into the United States.
The bust came as part of a broader national effort that saw massive fentanyl pills and doses seized across the country in the first half of 2025. While most seizures involve cash, weapons or narcotics, the Miami case underscores how cartels are increasingly leaning on crypto to move and hide profits.
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and expect further arrests and asset freezes tied to cartel operations.
While the authorities didn't specify which crypto assets they seized, previously the U.S. Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) said that criminal organizations in Mexico have been using several popular digital assets, including bitcoin, ether, monero and tether to buy the raw materials needed to make the drug fentanyl.