United Kingdom (UK) authorities have intensified efforts to disrupt crypto-linked money laundering networks, warning that cash couriers remain a critical link in the criminal ecosystem.

Sal Melki, Deputy Director for Economic Crime at the National Crime Agency (NCA), said couriers are “intrinsic” to global laundering operations that often rely on cryptocurrency exchanges and mixers to obscure illicit funds.

“They are in our communities and making the criminal ecosystem function – because if you cannot profit from your crimes, why bother,” Melki explained.

The crackdown comes as law enforcement highlights how traditional cash smuggling is increasingly intertwined with digital assets. The NCA alleges that the criminal network collects “dirty” cash generated from drug trafficking, firearms supply, and organized immigration crime, and converts this to “clean” cryptocurrency for a fee. This system, the NCA adds, is part of a global ecosystem that facilitates organized crime, sanctions evasion, and even money laundering services for the Russian state.

Since launching “Operation Destabilise,” law enforcement has made 128 arrests, and more than $32.75 million (£25 million) in cash and cryptocurrency has been seized in the UK alone. Intelligence from the operation has also enabled the NCA’s international partners to seize roughly $27 million in non-UK seizures.

Read more: UK Convicts Chinese Mastermind in Largest Bitcoin Seizure Case

In addition to arrests and seizures, UK authorities recently launched a public awareness campaign with messages displayed at service stations across the UK. While millions of Britons saw the notices, Melki stressed they were aimed squarely at the launderers themselves:

“Your choice is simple: either stop this line of work, or prepare to come face to face with one of our officers and the reality of your choices. Easy money leads to hard time.”

The warning underscores growing concern that crypto’s role in laundering schemes is expanding, with cash couriers acting as the essential bridge between blockchain transactions and the physical financial system.

• What is “Operation Destabilise”? A UK NCA campaign targeting crypto-linked money laundering networks.
• How are cash couriers involved? They move illicit cash that is later converted into cryptocurrency.
• What results has the crackdown achieved? 128 arrests and over $32.75M seized in the UK, plus $27M abroad.
• Why is crypto central to this scheme? Criminals use exchanges and mixers to turn dirty cash into “clean” digital assets.

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