Back to news
Most wanted crypto kingpin arrested in India—Who is Aleksej Besciokov?
@Source: newsbytesapp.com
A Lithuanian national and co-founder of cryptocurrency exchange Garantex, Aleksej Besciokov, has been arrested in India. The arrest was made by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Kerala police on the request of US authorities. Besciokov was reportedly on vacation with his family when he was apprehended by Varkala police as he attempted to leave India. Besciokov, who lives in Russia, is wanted for money laundering and other crimes related to Garantex. The cryptocurrency exchange was sanctioned by the US government in 2022 for its alleged role in illicit financial activities. The US Department of Justice unsealed an indictment against Besciokov on March 7, and he is on the Most Wanted list of the US Secret Service. The US Justice Department has charged Besciokov with conspiracy to violate sanctions and operate an unlicensed money-transmitting business. He profited from laundering proceeds from ransomware, computer hacking, and narcotics transactions, the CBI said. Between 2019-2025, Besciokov allegedly controlled Garantex which facilitated the laundering of at least $96 billion in cryptocurrency for transnational criminal groups including terrorist organizations. Last week, a coalition of international law enforcement agencies from the US, Germany, and Finland swung into action against Garantex. They seized the exchange's domains and servers and froze nearly $28 million in crypto linked to it. The US Justice Department disclosed that Garantex has processed at least $96 billion worth of cryptocurrency transactions since April 2019.
Related News
30 Mar, 2025
Tonight's rugby news as Dan Biggar invol . . .
22 May, 2025
Ministry Signs Off on Seven Fiji Educati . . .
28 Apr, 2025
Injured Reds call the Doctor to stay in . . .
05 May, 2025
Which PGA TOUR record did Scottie Scheff . . .
04 May, 2025
Phillip Watts is Minister of Sport and Y . . .
06 May, 2025
Loretto school child abuse victim wins l . . .
16 Apr, 2025
LSMI output decrease 1.90pc in 8 months
20 Feb, 2025
'Wicked' star Cynthia Erivo to host Tony . . .