The National Crime Agency (NCA) in the United Kingdom is ramping up its efforts to combat cryptocurrency-related crimes and apprehend criminals involved in such activities.
The NCA’s National Cyber Crime Unit (NCCU) is gearing up to establish a specialized cryptocurrency division dedicated to investigating cyber incidents in the UK that involve the use of digital currencies such as Bitcoin (BTC).
Dubbed the “NCCU Crypto Cell,” this specialized unit will initially consist of five officers focused on actively investigating cryptocurrency-related matters.
Chris Lewis-Evans, the NCA’s infrastructure investigations director, expressed enthusiasm about this new venture and emphasized the importance of expertise in cryptocurrency and virtual assets in supporting investigations into serious criminal activities facilitated by these digital means.
The NCA is therefore on the lookout for a skilled cryptocurrency investigator with a solid understanding of crypto and significant experience in conducting forensic blockchain analyses related to organized crime.
The selected candidate for the position will be responsible for offering guidance to investigators on strategic and operational levels when dealing with cases involving cryptocurrencies, aiding ongoing inquiries as well as initiating new ones. The role necessitates expertise in identifying and retrieving seed phrases and conducting advanced tracing via blockchains.
As part of this initiative, the NCA is offering an annual salary ranging from £40,200 ($48,200) to £43,705 ($52,400) for the promising crypto crime fighter. Interested individuals are encouraged to submit their applications before January 10, 2023.
This move by the NCA aligns with the UK government’s efforts to tighten regulations around crypto assets to counteract the flow of illicit funds in the country. In September 2022, the UK government introduced legislation aimed at cracking down on money laundering and fraud, empowering authorities to seize cryptocurrencies used for illicit purposes.
Detective Chief Superintendent Andy Gould from the National Police Chiefs’ Council confirmed that all police personnel in the UK received training on handling investigations related to the confiscation and enforcement of cryptocurrencies by October 2022.
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