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Indian authorities have apprehended a cryptocurrency exchange administrator sought by the United States for purportedly aiding cybercriminals in laundering money and contravening sanctions.
Aleksej Besciokov, a Lithuanian national residing in Russia, was taken into custody on Tuesday in the southern state of Kerala, as stated by India’s primary investigative agency.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) reports that Besciokov played a key role as an administrator of Garantex, a cryptocurrency exchange based in Russia, where he oversaw the examination and approval of various transactions.
Currently in custody, Besciokov has remained silent on the allegations. Attempts to contact Garantex for comment have been unsuccessful.
According to a recent indictment issued by the DOJ, Besciokov was “residing in Russia,” and the circumstances surrounding his arrival in India remain unclear.
India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) confirmed that it carried out a provisional arrest warrant at the request of U.S. authorities.
Besciokov is expected to appear before a court in Delhi, although the timeline for his potential extradition to the United States is still uncertain.
Last week, the DOJ, in collaboration with Germany and Finland, dismantled the online infrastructure utilized by Garantex.
Since 2019, Garantex has allegedly processed transactions worth over $96 billion, reportedly receiving hundreds of millions derived from illegal activities. These criminal proceeds have been associated with several serious offenses, including hacking, ransomware attacks, terrorism, and drug trafficking.
In addition to the aforementioned charges, the DOJ has accused Besciokov of disregarding sanctions and operating without a proper license for money transmission.
Recently, U.S. officials also charged Besciokov alongside Aleksandr Mira Serda, co-founder of Garantex, for money laundering activities.
Notably, Garantex was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2022. Following this action, authorities allege that Besciokov and his associates modified their operational framework in an attempt to sidestep these sanctions while encouraging American businesses to engage with them.
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