Queensland Law Enforcement Pushes for Enhanced Powers to Seize Cryptocurrencies Amid Rising Criminal Activity

The Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) in Queensland, Australia, is advocating for an overhaul of the state's Criminal Proceeds Confiscation Act 2002 to address the increasing use of cryptocurrencies for illicit activities. The CCC has highlighted deficiencies in current legislation that impede law enforcement's ability to seize digital assets linked to organised crime, such as money laundering. Specifically, the CCC has proposed reforms aimed at enhancing the seizure of digital assets, emphasising the need for updated language in the law to encompass cryptocurrencies and digital assets explicitly. This move comes in response to the evolving nature of criminal activity, which increasingly relies on digital platforms. The CCC argues that without adequate provisions for seizing digital assets, law enforcement's effectiveness in investigating crimes and attributing ownership of these assets is compromised.