Also known as the “Brit Pablo Escobar”, Curtis “Cocky” Warren, is being released after 14 years, but his freedom will be tested under a host of strict measures. The 59-year-old drug baron, who was once worth £200m, will be prohibited from using crypto such as Bitcoin and messenger services like WhatsApp.
Curtis Warren is a notorious criminal that has been on the UK’s radar for a long time. He had even been the most wanted criminal on Interpol’s list before his arrest. Warren was considered to be the UK’s biggest drug dealer at one point.
Warren had previously served a 12-year sentence in the Netherlands after being caught with £125 million worth of drugs and weapons. He had then earned another 4 years in prison for kicking a fellow inmate to death.
Warren was found guilty of conspiracy to smuggle cannabis in 2009 and sentenced to another 13 years in prison.
Even after being charged with this long sentence, Curtis is set to be freed next month by a UK court in Liverpool.
In order to keep restrictions on his transactions, the court has also ordered that he cannot hold more than £1,000 in cash, even in coins – and he will be closely watched when trying to borrow money, hold trusts or shares, or make transfers. He is also banned from ever using cryptocurrencies.
As the popularity of cryptocurrency grows, various governments across the globe have been paying attention to it. Hence this is not the first government to have linked Bitcoin activities to criminals.
Also Read: Associates of ‘Cryptoqueen’ being Sued in German Courts
