Overview

Aleksej Besciokov, a key figure in the sanctioned crypto exchange Garantex, has been arrested in India while vacationing with his family in Kerala.

Arrest and Charges

Besciokov, 46, faces accusations of money laundering conspiracy, violating sanctions, and conducting an unlicensed money transmitting operation. He was taken into custody by local law enforcement following reports from TechCrunch and Krebs on Security.

Details

• Garantex’s servers and domains were seized last week by international authorities, freezing approximately $28 million in cryptocurrency linked to the exchange.
• The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control sanctioned Garantex in 2022 for facilitating ransomware and darknet market activities.

Background on Garantex

In addition to money laundering, the exchange is said to have assisted in evading sanctions, particularly for Russian oligarchs through associated groups like TGR.

Additional Information

Besciokov is now listed on the U.S. Secret Service’s Most Wanted list. No comments have been released regarding his arrest from either the Kerala police or the U.S. Department of Justice.