Drug lord arrested in connection with $45 million Bitcoin donation to Czech Justice Ministry

Czech Bitcoin Scandal: From Million Dollar “Gift” to Shocking Arrest

From huge donations to revealing criminal past
Czech police have arrested Tomas Jirikovsky , a convicted drug trafficker, and seized several assets in an investigation related to a donation of 468 Bitcoins (worth about $45 million when given) to the Ministry of Justice.

The money was accepted by former Justice Minister Pavel Blazek without checking its source , leading to his resignation in May after the media exposed Jirikovsky as a former darknet kingpin who was sentenced to prison.

A subsequent audit concluded the money was at high risk of being criminal property and should not have been received.

Further investigation and legal action
The case now focuses on suspicion of money laundering and illegal drug trafficking , overseen by the High Prosecutor's Office in Olomouc .

The National Organized Crime Agency has conducted raids, seizing people and assets, but has not released details to avoid affecting the investigation.

Current minister Eva Decroix has pledged to publish a timeline of more than 8,000 events related to the case this week, as political pressure mounts ahead of October parliamentary elections.

Political crisis and the risk of spreading
The Bitcoin scandal sparked a no-confidence vote in June, but Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s government narrowly escaped with 98 votes against and 94 votes in favor.

However, the opposition party ANO continues to call for the dismissal of more ministers, including Finance Minister Zbynek Stanjura.

Analysts say that if the investigation confirms that this was criminal money, the case could become the biggest political shock in the Czech Republic in many years .