Aleksej Besciokov, an operator of the sanctioned Garantex crypto exchange, was arrested in India on charges related to money laundering and sanctions violation. Following international law enforcement action, $28 million connected to Garantex was frozen. The exchange was under scrutiny for its ties to ransomware and illicit operations.
Aleksej Besciokov, a key operator of the sanctioned Russian cryptocurrency exchange Garantex, has been arrested in India. He faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to launder money, conspiracy to violate sanctions, and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. This arrest comes amid intensified international law enforcement action against the exchange.
The arrest occurred in Kerala, India, while Besciokov was vacationing with his family. Reports indicate that his apprehension was part of a broader crackdown on Garantex, following the seizure of its servers and domains last week, and the freezing of $28 million in cryptocurrency associated with the exchange.
Garantex was previously sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in 2022 due to its alleged facilitation of money laundering activities linked to ransomware groups and darknet markets, such as Hydra. The exchange is also implicated in aiding other criminal enterprises like North Korea’s Lazarus Group.
Following this development, U.S. prosecutors unveiled charges against Besciokov and another Garantex operator, Aleksandr Mira Serda, for their involvement in money laundering conspiracies. It has been reported that Besciokov is listed on the U.S. Secret Service’s Most Wanted list. However, neither the Kerala police nor the U.S. Department of Justice has commented on the arrest as of now.
The arrest of Aleksej Besciokov signals a significant enforcement action against Garantex, a cryptocurrency exchange linked to serious financial crimes. His apprehension underlines the ongoing international efforts to combat money laundering and sanctions evasion linked to digital currencies. With $28 million in cryptocurrencies frozen and further investigations underway, this situation highlights increasing scrutiny of cryptocurrency activities worldwide.
Original Source: www.coindesk.com
