Drug Enforcement Agency is investing in cryptotracing software and identifying the cartels most sophisticated money launderers . The IRS has its most techsavvy agents tracing payments on dark web forums . The use of digital currency has exploded among fentanyl traffickers with transactions for fentanyl ingredients surging in the last year through April . Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation Cartel CJNG account for the majority of fentanyl on US streets . DEA agents have been tracking the cartels finances and supply routes for years but DHS in particular has ramped up its surveillance efforts in recent weeks . There have been some notable busts recently including nearly five tons of fentanyl seized this spring along the border . But there is still a lot of work left to do officials caution and the impact of the current surge may not be felt for months down the road . There are still some traditional law enforcement methods to be felt from months down to the current influx of fentanyl may not yet be felt in the future . A significant portion of fentanyl is sold over the dark web and paid for in cryptocurrency addresses written down on scraps of paper at stash houses in Arizona Scott Brown, special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations HSI in that state . The cartels have developed sophisticated crypto operations to finance its fentanyl business to finance their fentanyl business in the past . There is a vulnerability that we can attack. It is a ‘vulnerability that we are able to attack. Weveve identified the cartels. It’s a vulnerability. We’ve identified a vulnerability to the cartels,” says an agent for the cartels’. It’s a vulnerability,’Sinaloa Cartel’ve identified. It has been a vulnerability’ll be a very well-trained and well-prevented
‘This isn’t some random dude with a duffel bag’: Feds say
