Aleksej Besciokov, arrested in Kerala, faces extradition to the US for his role in facilitating criminal cryptocurrency transactions
India Detains Crypto Exchange Administrator Connected to US Money Laundering Case
India Detains Crypto Exchange Administrator Connected to US Money Laundering Case
Arrest of Aleksej Besciokov highlights international efforts against cybercrime
Authorities in India have made a significant move in the global fight against cybercrime by arresting Aleksej Besciokov, a cryptocurrency exchange administrator linked to serious criminal activities. Besciokov, a Lithuanian citizen residing in Russia, was detained in Kerala based on a request from the US, where he is wanted for allegedly enabling money laundering and breaching sanctions.
The arrest was confirmed by India’s premier investigative agency, which noted that Besciokov was one of the key administrators of Garantex, a cryptocurrency exchange based in Russia. His alleged responsibilities included the review and approval of transactions, which the US Department of Justice claims were tied to illicit activities. Currently, Besciokov is in custody, yet details about his statements remain undisclosed.
The US Justice Department reported that Garantex, which has been operational since 2019, processed an astonishing $96 billion in cryptocurrency, allegedly becoming a platform for laundering hundreds of millions in illegal proceeds derived from crimes including hacking, ransomware, and drug trafficking. Notably, the US Treasury Department had sanctioned Garantex in 2022 for its criminal activities, after which Besciokov and his team reportedly modified operations to avoid detection by US authorities.
Following the arrest, Besciokov will appear in a court in Delhi as the US seeks to move forward with extradition proceedings. The developments are part of a broader collaboration among international law enforcement agencies, including Germany and Finland, to dismantle the infrastructure supporting cryptocurrency exchanges engaged in criminal actions.
The arrest was confirmed by India’s premier investigative agency, which noted that Besciokov was one of the key administrators of Garantex, a cryptocurrency exchange based in Russia. His alleged responsibilities included the review and approval of transactions, which the US Department of Justice claims were tied to illicit activities. Currently, Besciokov is in custody, yet details about his statements remain undisclosed.
The US Justice Department reported that Garantex, which has been operational since 2019, processed an astonishing $96 billion in cryptocurrency, allegedly becoming a platform for laundering hundreds of millions in illegal proceeds derived from crimes including hacking, ransomware, and drug trafficking. Notably, the US Treasury Department had sanctioned Garantex in 2022 for its criminal activities, after which Besciokov and his team reportedly modified operations to avoid detection by US authorities.
Following the arrest, Besciokov will appear in a court in Delhi as the US seeks to move forward with extradition proceedings. The developments are part of a broader collaboration among international law enforcement agencies, including Germany and Finland, to dismantle the infrastructure supporting cryptocurrency exchanges engaged in criminal actions.
