Aleksej Besciokov, operator of the sanctioned Garantex cryptocurrency exchange, was arrested in India. He faces charges related to money laundering and operating without a license. International law enforcement recently seized Garantex’s servers, freezing $28 million in crypto. Besciokov’s arrest reflects the crackdown on illegal cryptocurrency operations.
Aleksej Besciokov, a 46-year-old Lithuanian national and operator of the sanctioned Russian cryptocurrency exchange Garantex, was arrested in Kerala, India, while vacationing with his family. Reports indicate that he faces charges including conspiracy to commit money laundering and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.
Garantex’s servers and domains were recently seized by a coalition of international law enforcement agencies, resulting in nearly $28 million in cryptocurrency being frozen. The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control sanctioned the exchange in 2022 due to its involvement with ransomware gangs and darknet marketplaces.
Reports suggest that Garantex facilitated money laundering for criminal organizations, including North Korea’s Lazarus Group, which executed a major heist valued at $1.5 billion last month. The exchange also allegedly provided sanctions evasion services to Russian oligarchs, with the TGR Group linked to its operations.
Following the seizure, U.S. prosecutors charged Besciokov and another operator, Aleksandr Mira Serda, with conspiracy to commit money laundering. Besciokov is currently listed among the U.S. Secret Service’s Most Wanted. As of now, there has been no response from Kerala police or the U.S. Department of Justice regarding his arrest.
The arrest of Aleksej Besciokov underscores the ongoing crackdown on cryptocurrency exchanges involved in illegal activities such as money laundering and sanctions evasion. Garantex’s involvement with criminal organizations, paired with significant law enforcement actions, highlights the increasing scrutiny of cryptocurrency platforms globally.
Original Source: www.coindesk.com
