Four arrested in Zeeland over €1.4 million NFT theft

Four people were arrested in connection with the theft of digital property certificates, known as NFTs, totaling approximately 1.4 million euros, NOS reported. The suspects are also under investigation for money laundering.

The Zeeland Police Department launched an investigation after receiving a tip about the stolen digital assets. Authorities identified the suspects as two men and a woman from Axel and a woman from Terneuzen. All four suspects were released after questioning, though the investigation remains ongoing.

Earlier this week, police conducted a raid on a home in Axel. Investigators seized digital storage devices, cash, and three vehicles. The property itself was also placed under seizure.

NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are unique digital certificates linked to artwork, music, or video, providing proof of ownership. These certificates can be stolen through hacking or phishing.

The popularity of NFTs surged a few years ago, with millions of digital works traded in 2021, often for substantial sums. A Malaysian businessman purchased the first-ever tweet posted on March 21, 2006, by Twitter founder Jack Dorsey for nearly 2.5 million euros, marking one of the earliest high-profile NFT transactions.