UK’s National Crime Agency Strengthens Efforts to Tackle Crypto-Related Crimes with New Digital Asset Investigation Team

UK’s National Crime Agency Strengthens Efforts to Tackle Crypto-Related Crimes with New Digital Asset Investigation Team

The National Crime Agency (NCA) in the United Kingdom is taking significant steps to strengthen its efforts in combating crypto-related crimes by expanding its digital asset investigation team. According to a report by Cointelegraph, the agency’s Complex Financial Crime Team (CFCT) is actively recruiting four experienced senior investigators to confront the growing wave of crypto-related criminal activities.

These appointed investigators will be tasked with delving into intricate cases of cryptocurrency fraud, money laundering, and blockchain-based criminal schemes orchestrated by organized crime syndicates. To bolster their operational capabilities, they will collaborate closely with a surveillance team and the London police force.

The NCA’s Investigations Directorate operates as a dynamic collective force with a clear mission to effectively combat serious and organized crime. The agency’s multifaceted teams address a wide array of threats, working in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, private industries, and police forces.

Applicants for these senior investigator roles must hold a current or active Professionalising Investigation Programme Level 2 accreditation or an equivalent government-issued qualification in investigative crime. The salary for this role ranges from £34,672 to £38,314.

This new and critical position is part of the recently established Digital Assets Team (DAT) within the CFCT. Its primary goal is to ensure meticulous compliance with the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 (CPIA) during complex investigations involving blockchain-enabled crimes.

The main focus of the team will be to probe criminal activities in virtual spaces, targeting high-value cryptocurrency fraud, money laundering offenses, and crimes committed by powerful organized crime groups and state entities.

Collaboration will be at the heart of this role, as the investigators will work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), intelligence units, and analysis personnel to efficiently handle disclosure requirements and strengthen their investigative endeavors.

The Digital Assets Team maintains a symbiotic relationship with other elements of the CFCT and the broader law enforcement community, as they collectively strive for enhanced cybercrime mitigation.