India Arrests Crypto Administrator with Russian Links Wanted by US

TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Indian authorities have arrested Aleksej Besciokov, a cryptocurrency exchange administrator with ties to Russia, who is wanted by the United States for allegedly aiding cybercriminals in laundering money and violating sanctions.

Besciokov, a Lithuanian citizen residing in Russia, was apprehended in Kerala on Tuesday, according to India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The arrest was made following a request from Washington, and he is expected to appear in a Delhi court soon.

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has accused Besciokov of being an administrator at Garantex, a Russian cryptocurrency exchange that processed over $96 billion in transactions since 2019. The platform allegedly facilitated cybercrimes, including hacking, ransomware attacks, terrorism financing, and drug trafficking.

The DOJ also claims Besciokov was involved in redesigning Garantex’s operations to evade US sanctions after the exchange was blacklisted by the Treasury Department in 2022. He, along with Russian co-founder Aleksandr Mira Serda, has been charged with money laundering and running an unlicensed money-transmitting business.

In a coordinated operation with Germany and Finland, US authorities recently dismantled Garantex’s online infrastructure. However, it remains unclear why Besciokov was in India at the time of his arrest.

His extradition timeline to the US is yet to be determined, as Indian authorities continue legal proceedings.