Department Of Justice Seizes Bitcoin, Websites From Terror Groups

The Justice Department has seized millions of dollars' worth of cryptocurrency from terrorist organizations, according to court documents unsealed Thursday, in what the government called its "largest-ever seizure of cryptocurrency in the terrorism context."

The Trump administration also said it seized several websites tied to an ISIS scheme to sell fraudulent face masks to the public during the pandemic.

All told the government seized more than 300 cryptocurrency accounts, as well as several websites and Facebook pages, allegedly belonging to members of al-Qaida, ISIS and the military wing of Hamas.

"It should not surprise anyone that our enemies use modern technology, social media platforms and cryptocurrency," Attorney General William Barr said in a statement. "We will seize the funds and the instrumentalities that provide a lifeline for their operations whenever possible."