Lucía Peña
Czech authorities have arrested Tomáš Jiřikovský, the notorious mastermind behind the defunct darknet hub Sheep Marketplace, after uncovering a massive $45 million Bitcoin transfer allegedly funneled into the Ministry of Justice. Prosecutors say the case involves money laundering and drug trafficking, revealing how digital crime may have seeped into the nation’s political system.
Police forces raided Jiřikovský’s residence in Břeclav late Thursday evening, ending in a dramatic arrest after he attempted to escape across a rooftop. The operation followed months of surveillance tied to a suspicious 468 BTC donation, valued at roughly $45 million, made earlier this year to the Justice Ministry.
Chief State Prosecutor Radim Dragoun confirmed that investigators are examining both the Bitcoin donation and Jiřikovský’s long history in the darknet drug trade.
From Darknet Millions to Political Influence
Jiřikovský first rose to infamy through Sheep Marketplace, a darknet site that facilitated drug sales until its abrupt shutdown in 2013. Court documents reveal he pocketed over 1,500 BTC during an exit scam, building a fortune that resurfaced years later in political corridors.
Although sentenced in 2017 to nine years for embezzlement, drug crimes, and illegal arms dealing, Jiřikovský was released on parole in 2021. The fact that authorities failed to recover his crypto wealth now casts a long shadow over the Czech legal system.
Political Fallout Deepens
The scandal has already toppled high-ranking officials. Former Justice Minister Pavel Blažek resigned in June, but the controversy intensified when his successor, Eva Decroix, ordered an independent audit.
Auditors from Grant Thornton concluded that the ministry should never have accepted the Bitcoin donation, citing strong indications of its criminal origin. Their report also suggested officials may have violated anti-money laundering laws by processing the funds.
A Crisis of Trust for Czech Leadership
With national elections on the horizon, the scandal represents one of the most serious challenges to Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s government. What began as a darknet crime has now evolved into a full-blown political crisis, raising questions about corruption, oversight, and the dangerous intersection of cryptocurrency and politics.
