The 9.72 bitcoins that disappeared from the custody of the Judicial Police, representing the largest cryptocurrency seizure ever made in Portugal, were deposited in three accounts on the SPORTSBET platform, all associated with the same Canadian citizen. The trail of the virtual money thus leads to Canada, according to information from the case to which CNN Portugal had access.
The case began in October 2018, in a villa in Vila Nova de Gaia, where the seizure took place, which became marked as a milestone in the history of Portuguese justice regarding cryptocurrencies.
To date, no one has been able to explain how the bitcoins left the custody of the Judicial Police, and the mechanism used for their removal remains unclear.
The couple involved in the case was acquitted, but does not seek any financial compensation — they only demand the return of the bitcoins that disappeared, a gesture that underscores the importance of the digital asset for those involved.
