Should we assume the NSA was involved in the SilkRoad (SR1) investigation? Edward Snowden says, "Yes."

On February 20th, 2016, speaking (from Russia via Skype) to a live audience at the New Hampshire Liberty Forum, Edward Snowden was asked about potential NSA involvement in the SilkRoad (SR1) investigation.

YouTube link

@ 35:54, he is asked if it should be assumed that the NSA was involved in the SR1 investigation. Edward Snowden, without hesitation says, "yes."

He elaborates, saying the NSA is part of the Five Eyes. The UK government is as well. GCHQ (the UK's NSA counterpart) is allowed to use NSA systems against "serious crimes" which includes "drug trafficking" by their definitions. In fact, they have a mandate to do so. He basically, by example, suggests that GCHQ could have been involved in the SR1 investigation and shared that intel with the NSA (who could pass it on to domestic US law enforcement agencies).

"It seems unthinkable to me that there was not an intelligence angle, internationally, that was involved in that case."

~~ Edward Snowden


Comments


[35 Points] None:

I've had it. These fucks can't take my drugs from me. I WILL KEEP BEING HIGH 24/7. FUCK YOU USA!


[18 Points] docbenway123:

Nah man I thought Tarbell just hit F5 on the login screen until it gave up and fed him an IP? As a 1337 cr4xor myself, I can confirm this is how Tor works.


[10 Points] purplishturquoise:

Lol, shocker. I appreciate you posting this, but I think most people could have guessed this.

Well, I would hope so anyway..


[5 Points] MDMangel:

Yes we should assume NSA involvement in the SilkRoad investigation, as well as every other action involving LE and the ever encroaching invasion of our privacy. One day, historians will respect Mr. Edward Snowden for the Paul Revere that he is.


[3 Points] None:

More like the CIA was selling cocaine on SR1......At least they supplied a few vendors!!!!


[2 Points] 100x100ug:

I think you would need to be blissfully ignorant to not think that NSA was at the very least in the know & at some level involved with it,

"serious crimes" which includes "drug trafficking"

It was the largest public easily accessible drug market available at the time, I would be surprised if many other government organizations were not somehow involved with SR1.


[1 Points] Eric1029:

Wait is he no longer hiding in Russia?


[1 Points] bikramdrugsbikram:

no shit


[1 Points] ranger49:

The more intriguing thing is if the NSA is involved in any dark net cases today. With the two biggest markets being Russian........


[1 Points] DeathThrasher:

Snowden is an american spy infiltrated into Russia.


[1 Points] None:

Edward commonsense snowden.


[-1 Points] CynicalElephant:

The man can't know everything. He clearly doesn't know anything about it that the common man doesn't already know. He should've just said, "Probably, but I dont have any first hand evidence to prove it."