In a significant development, Indian authorities have apprehended an administrator of a cryptocurrency exchange who the United States seeks for purportedly facilitating money laundering for cybercriminals and breaching sanctions.
Aleksej Besciokov, a Lithuanian national residing in Russia, was apprehended on Tuesday in the southern Indian state of Kerala, according to statements from the country’s leading investigative agency.
The US Justice Department (DOJ) has identified him as one of the administrators of Garantex, a Russian cryptocurrency exchange, where he played a key role in reviewing and approving transactions.
Besciokov remains in custody and has yet to provide a statement. Attempts to contact Garantex for a response were unsuccessful at this time.
According to a recently released indictment from the Department of Justice, Besciokov was “residing in Russia.” However, the circumstances surrounding his arrival in India, including the timing and reasons, remain unclear.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of India announced that it had issued a provisional arrest warrant for him following a request from Washington.
According to reports, Besciokov is set to appear in a Delhi court. The timeline for his extradition to the US remains uncertain.
Last week, the Department of Justice announced that the United States, in collaboration with Germany and Finland, successfully dismantled the online infrastructure utilised by Garantex.
According to reports, Garantex has processed $96 billion (£74.10 billion) in cryptocurrency transactions since 2019. Allegations suggest that the platform received hundreds of millions in criminal proceeds, which were purportedly utilised to facilitate a range of illicit activities, including hacking, ransomware, terrorism, and drug trafficking.
The Department of Justice has levelled accusations against a Lithuanian national for allegedly breaching sanctions and running an “unlicensed money transmitting business.”
In a significant development last week, US officials announced charges against Besciokov and Aleksandr Mira Serda, the Russian co-founder of the exchange, for their alleged involvement in money laundering activities.
In 2022, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Garantex.
Shortly thereafter, Besciokov and fellow administrators allegedly restructured their operations to circumvent sanctions and entice American businesses into collaboration, according to the Department of Justice.
