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A global money laundering operation, uncovered in Operation Destabilise, facilitated billions of dollars in illicit funds for drug traffickers, ransomware gangs, and potentially sanctioned Russian elites. The operation, led by the NCA, involved arrests and disruptions across multiple countries, highlighting the scale and complexity of international financial crime. This underscores the need for cross-border cooperation to combat cybercrime.

Larry Dean Harmon, the operator of the Helix cryptocurrency mixing service, has been sentenced to three years in prison for money laundering. Harmon’s service, which operated from 2014 to 2017, laundered over $311 million in cryptocurrency. This case highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in tracking and prosecuting cryptocurrency-related crimes. The sentencing includes a significant asset forfeiture of over $400 million, representing assets tied to Harmon’s illicit activities. This case serves as a significant development in the ongoing efforts to combat cryptocurrency money laundering and underscores the increasing scrutiny of cryptocurrency mixing services.