India has arrested Aleksej Besciokov, a Lithuanian crypto administrator wanted by the U.S. for cybercrime and sanctions violations. He was arrested in Kerala and is linked to Garantex, a Russian cryptocurrency exchange implicated in laundering over $96 billion since 2019. Besciokov faces extradition challenges and legal proceedings following his arrest at the request of U.S. authorities.
On Tuesday, authorities in India apprehended Aleksej Besciokov, a Lithuanian national with ties to Russia, who is sought by the United States for allegedly facilitating money laundering and breaching sanctions. His arrest took place in Kerala, as confirmed by India’s top investigative agency.
Besciokov served as an administrator for Garantex, a Russian cryptocurrency exchange, overseeing and approving transaction processes. He remains in custody, and at this time, no public statement from him has been reported. Efforts to obtain commentary from Garantex have proven unsuccessful.
As per the recent indictment by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Besciokov was last known to be residing in Russia, although specifics concerning his arrival in India remain uncertain. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of India announced its provisional arrest warrant was issued at the behest of Washington.
Following his arrest, Besciokov is scheduled to appear in a Delhi court, although the timeline for his extradition to the United States has not been established. The DOJ revealed that Garantex had its online infrastructure dismantled in collaboration with authorities in Germany and Finland.
Since 2019, Garantex has been implicated in processing transactions amounting to approximately $96 billion, purportedly receiving hundreds of millions in illicit funds used for various criminal undertakings, including cybercrime, drug trafficking, and terrorism.
U.S. authorities have also accused Besciokov of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business and violating sanctions. Charges filed last week include money laundering, with Besciokov and Garantex’s co-founder, Aleksandr Mira Serda, facing prosecution. Moreover, Garantex had been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2022, but it is alleged that Besciokov and others subsequently modified their operations to circumvent sanctions and entice American enterprises into collaborations.
In summary, the arrest of Aleksej Besciokov in India highlights significant international cooperation in combating cybercrime and money laundering. Allegations against him stress the role of cryptocurrency exchanges like Garantex in facilitating large-scale illicit financial activities. The ongoing legal proceedings will determine the outcomes relating to his potential extradition and further accountability for the alleged crimes associated with the exchange.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
