Aleksej Besciokov, Garantex Operator, Arrested in India on Serious Charges

Aleksej Besciokov, an operator of the sanctioned Russian crypto exchange Garantex, has been arrested in India on charges including money laundering and sanctions violations. His arrest follows the seizure of Garantex’s servers and $28 million in frozen cryptocurrency. The exchange was previously sanctioned by U.S. authorities for facilitating criminal activities related to ransomware and darknet markets.

Aleksej Besciokov, a key operator of the sanctioned Russian cryptocurrency exchange Garantex, has reportedly been arrested in India. He faces multiple charges including conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to violate sanctions, and conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business. His arrest occurred in Kerala while he was on vacation with his family.

In a joint effort by international law enforcement agencies from the U.S., Germany, and Finland, Garantex’s domains and servers were seized last week. This operation resulted in the freezing of approximately $28 million in cryptocurrency linked to the exchange. The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control sanctioned Garantex in 2022 for facilitating money laundering for ransomware groups and darknet markets.

Additionally, Garantex has been implicated in aiding Russian oligarchs through elaborate sanctions evasion services. U.S. prosecutors have charged Besciokov and another operator, Aleksandr Mira Serda, with money laundering conspiracy. Besciokov is currently on the U.S. Secret Service’s Most Wanted list.

Reports indicate Garantex has worked with notorious cybercrime entities, including North Korea’s Lazarus Group, which is responsible for a $1.5 billion heist last month. Despite several attempts, neither the Kerala police nor the U.S. Department of Justice has commented on Besciokov’s arrest.

The arrest of Aleksej Besciokov marks a significant development in the ongoing efforts to combat cryptocurrency-related crimes. His charges of conspiracy highlight the urgent need to address the misuse of digital assets in laundering operations and sanctions evasion. This operation against Garantex illustrates the coordinated international response to cryptocurrency crime and the commitment of law enforcement agencies in tackling such illicit activities.

Original Source: www.coindesk.com