Spanish National Police seized two cold wallets containing 400,000 euros this Thursday after dismantling a massive piracy network in Almería. According to the Ministry of the Interior, the operation against the largest Spanish-language manga portal resulted in three arrests of involved Spanish citizens. The portal generated profits of four million euros since 2014 through illicit advertising.
Officers located the hardware devices hidden inside a wall thermometer during the house search conducted by specialized units. This platform had been distributing protected content without authorization for twelve years, managing to generate profits exceeding four million euros in total. According to the official statement, the investigation was triggered by complaints from several intellectual property rights holders.
At the close of the intervention, technological experts have not yet confirmed whether they possess the keys to access the funds. This scenario poses a structural question regarding the effectiveness of judicial seizures when digital assets reside on physical devices. The detainees face charges for intellectual property crimes and money laundering.
The devices remain under technical custody awaiting forensic access.
From a compliance perspective, the physical seizure of hardware does not guarantee capital recovery without the cooperation of the investigated party. Institutional security analysts point out that cold storage represents a technical obstacle for the execution of judicial sentences. Managing these evidences requires high-security protocols that, as recent cases demonstrate, present critical vulnerabilities when states lack specialized infrastructures.
In February of this year, a national audit in Seoul revealed that 22 Bitcoin disappeared under Korean police custody after being previously confiscated. Although the physical device remained secured, the funds were transferred to an external address through unauthorized access. A similar incident occurred in August 2025, when the Prosecutor’s Office lost control of 320 BTC valued at 21 million.
To mitigate these operational risks, various agencies are implementing AI systems designed to monitor the movement of seized assets in real time. This technology allows authorities to receive immediate alerts if any on-chain activity linked to guarded devices is detected. The goal is to establish an algorithmic surveillance layer that ensures evidence integrity throughout the entire legal process.
From a regulatory angle, the Supreme Court of South Korea ruled in January 2026 that funds on centralized platforms can be blocked. This resolution facilitates the intervention of digital assets in regulated environments but leaves a legal vacuum regarding hardware wallets. In Spain, the Criminal Procedure Law continues to adapt to define how courts can compel the delivery of recovery seeds.
The outcome of the Almería operation will depend on the investigators’ ability to obtain access credentials through judicial agreements. The Ministry of the Interior now faces the challenge of guarding these funds in a volatile environment where any delay affects the final recoverable value. The first hearing of the case is scheduled for the second half of 2026.
The trial date will determine the final fate of the funds.
This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute financial advice.
