近年來，毒品販運集團在全球範圍內的洗錢手段不斷演變，尤其是在虛擬貨幣普及的背景下，美國等消費國的販毒集團利用高科技金融工具，將非法收益轉移至原產地以支付貨款，形成一條高度隱蔽且複雜的資金流通鏈條。根據區塊鏈分析公司ELLIPTIC發佈的文章《Sanctions and terrorism: How the cartels use crypto to launder the proceeds of narcotics trafficking》，對美國販毒集團的虛擬幣洗錢方式進行了深入剖析，其內容揭示現代毒資結算的複雜性與隱蔽性。

首先，毒品販運集團在美國等市場銷售毒品後，通常會獲得大量現金。這些現金必須轉回墨西哥等毒品原產地，用於支付供應商貨款。為實現這一資金轉移，販毒集團往往與專業洗錢組織合作，通過簽訂合同，由洗錢團夥將現金存入美國銀行系統，再通過各種方式轉移至販毒集團。傳統洗錢方法仍被廣泛使用，包括現金密集型業務（如餐飲店等以現金交易的企業）、大額現金存取、跨境匯款以及虛假貿易等。

隨著虛擬貨幣的發展，販毒集團開始大量採用加密貨幣洗錢手段。具體流程通常是：將毒品收益現金存入銀行帳戶，再尋找虛擬幣洗錢組織，將現金兌換成穩定幣（如 USDT），隨後通過波場（TRON）、乙太坊（Ethereum） 等鏈路進行虛擬幣轉帳，最終轉至原產地的虛擬幣位址，由原產地人員將虛擬幣兌換為美元或當地貨幣。此類操作通過智慧合約、跨鏈交易以及多位址中轉，進一步提高了資金鏈的隱蔽性，使追蹤難度大幅增加。

在虛擬幣洗錢交易中，研究發現一些典型的可疑特徵：首先，資金一旦轉入虛擬幣洗錢組織帳戶，通常會在24小時內迅速兌現，帳戶餘額幾乎為零；其次，資金“快進快出”，交易頻繁且連續；再次，經常出現跨鏈交易，例如接收乙太坊鏈的USDT後，再通過波場鏈轉出USDT；此外，交易對手往往具有相似特徵，多數來自毒品原產地；同時，接收可疑資金的位址還會為轉帳位址提供Gas費用，以完成交易操作。

文章中還列舉幾個實際案例。2024年11月，一起涉及540萬美元的販毒集團虛擬幣洗錢案件被緝毒局偵破。臥底提供的線索顯示，販毒集團的虛擬幣資金通過兩個交易所帳戶流轉，其中一名用戶在交易所進行跨鏈交易，再將虛擬幣轉出，最終彙集至洗錢團夥控制的資金池位址，該位址已被緝毒局扣押。在資金鏈中，存在跨鏈操作、多層中轉以及多位址 Gas 費用關聯等典型洗錢行為。此外，另一案例顯示，某重點洗錢人員位址向販毒集團位址轉帳USDT，資金鏈條中出現洗錢人員位址與販毒集團位址的Gas費用關聯，進一步驗證虛擬幣在洗錢中的複雜運作方式。

總的來看，隨著禁毒工作在全球範圍內的不斷推進，傳統毒資結算手段受到嚴格監管，毒品犯罪集團也在不斷創新支付方式。使用虛擬幣結算毒資、通過智慧合約、匿名幣、跨鏈交易及多位址中轉等手段隱匿資金，使得資金鏈更加隱蔽，增加了追蹤難度。面對這一新型挑戰，需要執法部門重點關注毒品集團及其關聯洗錢團夥的虛擬幣位址，及時識別可疑交易，從而有效打擊涉及毒品的犯罪活動。該篇ELLIPTIC 的分析文章為全球反洗錢與禁毒工作提供重要參考和借鑒意義。

In recent years, drug trafficking organizations have increasingly adapted their money laundering methods, particularly with the rise of cryptocurrencies. In consumer countries such as the United States, drug cartels generate large amounts of cash from sales, which must be transferred back to their countries of origin, such as Mexico, to pay suppliers. To facilitate this, cartels often collaborate with professional money laundering organizations. These laundering networks enter into contracts with the cartels, converting cash into bank deposits and then transferring it to the cartels through various channels. Traditional laundering techniques are still widely used, including cash-intensive businesses (such as restaurants or other cash-based enterprises), large cash deposits and withdrawals, wire transfers, and trade-based fraud.

With the advent of virtual currencies, cartels have increasingly used cryptocurrencies to launder proceeds. Typically, cash obtained from drug sales is deposited into a bank account and then exchanged for stablecoins such as USDT through a cryptocurrency laundering organization. The funds are then transferred via blockchain networks such as Tron or Ethereum to cryptocurrency addresses controlled by personnel in the countries of origin. Those personnel convert the stablecoins into U.S. dollars or local currency. These processes often involve smart contracts, cross-chain transfers, and multiple intermediary addresses, making the money trail highly opaque and difficult to trace.

Analyses of these cryptocurrency laundering networks have revealed several suspicious patterns. First, funds entering a laundering organization’s account are usually liquidated within 24 hours, leaving near-zero balances. Second, the funds move rapidly in and out, showing high transaction velocity. Third, cross-chain transactions are common, for example, receiving USDT on Ethereum and transferring it out on Tron. Fourth, counterparties often share similar characteristics, frequently originating from the cartel’s home region. Finally, addresses receiving suspicious funds often provide Gas fees to facilitate further transfers.

The report by blockchain analytics firm ELLIPTIC includes several real-world cases. In November 2024, a U.S. drug cartel laundered approximately $5.4 million USD in cryptocurrency. Undercover agents traced the funds to two exchange accounts, one of which executed cross-chain transfers and ultimately consolidated the funds into a laundering pool controlled by the cartel. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has since seized this address. Another case highlighted that a key laundering operator transferred large amounts of USDT to cartel-controlled addresses, with Gas fees linking the laundering and cartel addresses, demonstrating the complexity and sophistication of cryptocurrency laundering.

In conclusion, while anti-drug enforcement efforts worldwide have made significant progress, the methods used by drug trafficking groups continue to evolve. Using cryptocurrencies, smart contracts, anonymous coins, cross-chain transactions, and multi-address intermediaries allows cartels to conceal their funds, making detection and tracking much more challenging. Effective countermeasures require authorities to monitor cartel-associated cryptocurrency addresses, identify suspicious transactions in a timely manner, and thereby combat drug-related financial crime. ELLIPTIC’s detailed analysis provides valuable insights and guidance for global anti-money laundering and anti-drug initiatives.