Man jailed over cryptocurrency drug dealing

A man who used cryptocurrency to conceal his drug dealing has been jailed.

Benjamin Dack, from the Scarborough area, was arrested on numerous occasions, after an investigation into suspected dealing started in 2023.

The 28-year-old, of no fixed abode, continued to sell cannabis despite his initial arrest and a search of his phone found he had been using cryptocurrency to buy and sell drugs.

At York Crown Court on Friday, he was jailed for four years after earlier changing three of his pleas to guilty.

Dack admitted possession with the intent to supply cannabis, possession of criminal property and concern in the supply of cannabis.

The defendant denied assaulting an emergency worker on 22 April 2026 while he was being arrested, which was allowed to remain on file.

The court heard there had been clear evidence that Dack had made efforts to evade detection and hide the origin of his money.

He had also been found in possession of luxury items such as Rolex watches.

Financial investigator Amy Monkman said: "As part of the investigation, access to the defendant's phone indicated use of cryptocurrency and we were able to identify transactions linked to the buying and selling of drugs using cryptocurrency for payment.

"Cryptocurrency is becoming a popular method for concealing assets and disguising the movement of funds.

"North Yorkshire Police have the tools to investigate the use of cryptocurrency and seize criminal funds - our Economic Crime Unit are committed to ensuring any benefit from criminality is identified and seized, depriving criminals of their ill-gotten gains."

The information identified a balance of Bitcoin which was seized with an approximate value of £4,104, along with cash seized of £7,580.

The cash is currently being preserved ahead of a hearing in March 2027 under the Proceeds of Crime Act that will determine the financial benefit obtained through criminal conduct and the amount to be confiscated.

Det Con Alfie Thomlinson said: "Throughout numerous interviews, Dack either remained silent or no comment but the evidence spoke for itself - Dack was heavily involved in the supply of cannabis on a large scale.

"We are pleased with today's outcome, but our work does not stop there - we will continue to take a firm stance against drug-related crime in our area and work closely with community partners to reduce the irrefutable harm caused by drugs, especially its impact on vulnerable people in our communities."

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