South Korean police and prosecutors have quadrupled the amount of money they are spending on crypto monitoring tools in the past 12 months.

Per Chosun Ilbo, law enforcers have spent some $2.4 million on crypto monitoring software and crypto-specific training for officers in the past year. Last year, that figure stood at $653,000.

Police forces across the country have been forming specialized crypto units, which has led to an increase in spending. But, the media outlet explained, officers now how tools that allow them to trace crypto transactions back to individual IP addresses.

They also have tools that allow them to monitor crypto transaction details in real time, examine activity on exchanges, and verify “source information” on crypto remittances.

Part of the spending is likely attributable to the police force’s crackdown on crypto-powered drug trafficking.

Darkweb operators have been operating portals that allow buyers to find local dealers – and pay in bitcoin (BTC) for dead-dropped narcotics. While the darkweb portals are still extant, police have had more luck finding and prosecuting dealers and drug buyers.

(By Tim Alper)