Emre Yumlu 
New Zealand police have detained a man living in Wellington as part of a global cryptocurrency fraud investigation led in coordination with the FBI, involving approximately 450 million New Zealand dollars (265 million USD). The suspect is being charged under U.S. organized crime laws.
$265 Million Cryptocurrency Scam
Police announced that during a three-day operation, they conducted raids on multiple addresses in Auckland, Wellington, and California, resulting in the detention of 13 individuals.
According to officials, an organized criminal network allegedly seized large amounts of cryptocurrency from seven victims between March and August 2024 and laundered the assets across different platforms.
The U.S. Department of Justice officially indicted the individual under federal law for racketeering, conspiracy to commit fraud, and conspiracy to launder money.
Luxury Lifestyle: Millions Spent on Cars and Extravagant Goods
Prosecutors stated that the suspects used the stolen funds to purchase luxury vehicles worth $9 million, and spent lavishly in areas like Los Angeles, Miami, and the Hamptons on nightclubs, private security, and high-end rentals.
It was also reported that significant amounts were spent on designer handbags, watches, and fashion items.
The Wellington-based suspect appeared before the Auckland District Court and was released on bail under temporary name suppression. The next court date was set for July 3.
New Zealand Police made the following statement:
“We have worked closely with law enforcement in the United States. Today’s search and arrest demonstrate the critical importance of international cooperation in cross-border crimes.”
Crypto Asset Thefts Peaked in April 2025
According to data from blockchain security firm PeckShield, approximately $360 million in digital assets were stolen across 18 separate cyber incidents in April 2025 alone. Compared to March’s reported $33 million in losses, this represents a 990% surge.
The majority of this spike stems from an unauthorized $330 million Bitcoin transfer, detected on April 28 by blockchain investigator ZachXBT. The transfer was later identified as the result of a social engineering attack targeting an elderly U.S. citizen and is considered one of the largest individual crypto thefts on record.
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