Tether, which claims to be one of the largest companies in the digital assets industry, recently announced that it supported the Royal Thai Police and the United States Secret Service in a “coordinated” international operation that led to the seizure of approximately 12 million USDT (valued at roughly 400 million baht) connected to “a major scam network operating across Southeast Asia.”
The operation was reportedly carried out by Thailand’s Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) under the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) as part of an effort to bring down online fraud and money laundering operations.
According to the Royal Thai Police, authorities arrested “73 suspects, including 51 Thai and 22 foreign nationals, and seized assets worth more than 522 million baht.”
Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether said that this operation highlights how blockchain transparency “can empower law enforcement to act quickly and effectively against criminal activity.”
He added that they’re committed to supporting law enforcement around the world in “freezing illicit assets, protecting victims, and ensuring that USDT continues to serve as a transparent tool for global commerce.”
During the past year, Tether says that has actively collaborated with global law enforcement in order to facilitate various seizures of illicit funds across jurisdictions.
This past June, the company was acknowledged by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for its assistance in “a major enforcement action involving the seizure of approximately $225 million in USDT.”
In March, Tether assisted the U.S. Secret Service in freezing “$23 million in illicit funds tied to transactions on the Russian-sanctioned exchange Garantex, and helped freeze an additional $9 million connected to the Bybit hack.”
To date, Tether has blocked over 3,660 wallets in “assisting law enforcement, including 2,100 cases in coordination with U.S. agencies.”
Tether’s support in the Thai operation builds on its efforts with law enforcement agencies to combat financial crimes involving digital assets.
The firm has worked with over 290 law enforcement agencies across 59 jurisdictions, freezing more than “$3.2 billion in assets linked to illicit activity.”
Tether says that it now remains committed to maintaining close cooperation with law enforcement authorities in order “to promote transparency, prevent misuse of digital assets, and strengthen trust in blockchain-based financial systems.”