Indian authorities have arrested Aleksej Besciokov, a cryptocurrency exchange administrator wanted by the United States for alleged money laundering and sanction violations. The Lithuanian citizen and Russian resident was detained in Kerala on Tuesday, according to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The arrest comes at the request of the US Department of Justice (DOJ), which has accused Besciokov of facilitating cybercrime activities through the Russian cryptocurrency exchange Garantex.
Who is Aleksej Besciokov and What is Garantex?
Besciokov was allegedly responsible for reviewing and approving transactions on Garantex, a Russian crypto exchange that has been under scrutiny for handling illicit financial activities.
Garantex was sanctioned by the US Treasury in 2022
Since 2019, it has processed over $96 billion in cryptocurrency transactions
The DOJ claims it received hundreds of millions in criminal proceeds
The funds were allegedly used for hacking, ransomware, terrorism, and drug trafficking
US Crackdown on Crypto Crime
The US, in collaboration with Germany and Finland, recently dismantled Garantex’s online infrastructure as part of an international crackdown on cybercrime.
Last week, US prosecutors indicted Besciokov and Garantex’s Russian co-founder, Aleksandr Mira Serda, on charges of:
Money laundering
Operating an unlicensed money transmission business
Violating US sanctions
Despite facing sanctions, Garantex allegedly restructured its operations to bypass restrictions and lure American businesses into transactions.
India’s Role and Next Steps
The CBI issued a provisional arrest warrant against Besciokov at Washington’s request, and he is currently in custody. He will soon be produced in a Delhi court, where his extradition process is expected to be discussed.
Key Questions:
- Why was Besciokov in India?
- When will he be extradited to the US?
- How will this impact global crypto regulations?
As the US continues its crackdown on illicit cryptocurrency operations, this case highlights the growing international efforts to regulate the crypto sector and combat financial crime.