Project Longstrike Launches, Meanwhile Australian Citizen Extradited To United States Over Silk Road Charges

Reuters reports that an unnamed Australian law enforcement agency is investigating the use of bitcoin in organised crime. It's unknown whether the LEA conducting the investigation, named Project Longstrike, is one at the state or federal level. Given the project's scope for local and international crime, it's likely to be the later of the two.

Speaking to Reuters, Australian Crime Commission Executive Director Judy Lind said:

"We know that virtual currencies including bitcoin are used as payment methods to facilitate illicit trade on the darknet. Organised crime groups continue to make use of darknets to harbour trading in illicit commodities, including child exploitation material, illicit drugs and firearms, stolen credit card and identity data, and hacking techniques."

The launch of Project Longstrike comes off the back of the extradition of Australian citizen Peter Nash to the United States to face charges of conspiracy to engage in narcotics trafficking, computer hacking and money laundering in relation to the first iteration of the Silk Road.

Nash, who is alleged to have gone by the aliases Batman73 and Anonymousasshit and allegedly a moderator for the Silk Road discussion forums, waived his extradition rights in March of this year. A spokesperson for the Attorney General's Department did not specify when Nash had been surrendered to US authorities.

2 thoughts on “Project Longstrike Launches, Meanwhile Australian Citizen Extradited To United States Over Silk Road Charges

  1. Er, you said you're not sure of the LEA's name or status as a federal or state agency, and then you quote Judy Lind of the… Australian Crime Commission.
    I think that might be the answer you're looking for.

    • The way in which I read the Reuters article, specifically "a top Australian law enforcement agency", does not explicitly state that the ACC is spearheading Project Longstrike or that the investigators on the project work at the ACC.

      Sure, you can probably assume that's the case but:

      1) There is more than one top LEA here in Australia.

      2) Given the project is focused on a national and international level, yet the ACC only has jurisdiction in Australia, it's possible that Australia is not the only country involved.

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