Former NCA Officer Could Face Further Action Over Stolen 50 BTC Recovered Through Blockchain Analysis

Key Points

1. Paul Chowles, a former National Crime Agency officer, stole 50 BTC during a 2017 investigation into Silk Road 2.0, initially valued at $77,000 but now worth over $5.6 million.

2. Chowles used Bitcoin Fog, a crypto mixer, to obscure the transaction trail of the stolen Bitcoin.

3. The stolen Bitcoin was recovered in 2022 with the help of blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis during a search by Merseyside Police.

4. Chowles was dismissed from the NCA in July 2025, and the Crown Prosecution Service is pursuing further legal action against him.

5. The case highlights the importance of advanced blockchain forensics in prosecuting crypto-related crimes and the growing collaboration between law enforcement and blockchain analytics firms.