Everything You Need To Know About Crypto Cartels

Almost 110,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2023 and 80 percent of those deaths were attributed to fentanyl, which is unprecedented in American history. 

In this episode, Ian Andrews (CMO, Chainalysis) discusses these horrific stats with respect to fentanyl trafficking and the technology-driven evolution of drug cartels with Jim Schrant (Director of Strategy and Growth, CACI International)

Jim provides a comprehensive look at his extensive career in the DEA, offering insights into the evolving landscape of drug trafficking facilitated by cryptocurrency and how their new solution, CluesAI and other technology, gives law enforcement a fighting chance against modern day drug traffickers.

He also provides in-depth analysis of the role darknet markets and precursors like Xylazine add to the fentanyl crisis and identifies the role Cartels and Chinese money launderer organizations play in moving crypto and cash around internationally. 

Minute-by-minute episode breakdown

2 | Jim’s law enforcement journey beginning with investigation Colombian drug cartels

4 | Evolution of technology used by criminals and the emergence of sophisticated Fentanyl production and trafficking

8 | How the Darknet Market’s role in fueling the  Xylazine and Fentanyl crisis

12 | Crypto becomes main way that drug cartels are moving the proceeds of Fentanyl sales 

18 | Challenges and innovations in law enforcement's technical evolution in investigating drug trafficking

22 | Revolutionizing Darkweb investigations with CluesAI for law enforcement

30 | Modernizing Federal law enforcement through technology and expertise

Related resources

Check out more resources provided by Chainalysis that perfectly complement this episode of the Public Key.

• Website: DarkBlue: AI-Enhanced Dark Web Analysis
• Video: CluesAI: The newest tool in the DarkBlue Intelligence Suite to identify threats on the dark and open web
• Whitepaper: Disrupting Fentanyl and precursor trafficking with dark web intelligence
• Free Trial:: DarkBlue: Experience the DarkBlue Difference: Request unlimited access to a free 30‑day trial account and discover why experts trust DarkBlue.
• One-Pager: DarkBlue Intelligence Suite: Unlock new leads with CluesAI
• Report: Archetyp Market: A Haven for US-Based Fentanyl Traffickers
• Blog: Anatomy of an Address Poisoning Scam
• Blog: Crypto and the Opioid Crisis: What Blockchain Analysis Reveals About Global Fentanyl Sales (UPDATED 3/7/24)
• Reports: The 2024 Geography of Crypto Report (Download now!)
• YouTube: Chainalysis YouTube page
• Twitter: Chainalysis Twitter: Building trust in blockchain
  

Speakers on today’s episode

• Ian Andrews *Host* (Chief Marketing Officer, Chainalysis) 
• Jim Schrant (Director, Strategy and Growth, CACI International)

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