Former NCA Official Ordered to Pay £1.81 Million for Bitcoin Theft

Former UK National Crime Agency (NCA) official Paul Chowles, 44, has been ordered to pay £1,810,678.93 (approximately $2.4 million) following a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Chowles was found to have stolen 50 Bitcoin in 2017 while investigating the Silk Road 2 darknet market. The Crown Prosecution Service noted that 30 of the stolen coins were recovered, with the repayment amount reflecting the significant appreciation of Bitcoin since the theft. Chowles laundered the funds through the Bitcoin Fog mixer and debit cards before his activities were uncovered in 2022.