In a joint operation, the CBI and Kerala Police have arrested 46-year-old Lithuanian national Aleksej Besciokov, who was wanted by the United States for allegedly running the cryptocurrency exchange Garantex, which is accused of laundering proceeds from criminal activities, including ransomware attacks.
According to US Secret Service documents, Besciokov, a Lithuanian citizen who resided in Russia, had been operating Garantex since January 2019. The exchange was reportedly used to facilitate illicit cryptocurrency transactions and launder money related to a variety of criminal enterprises, including drug trafficking and ransomware.
Besciokov was arrested while allegedly attempting to escape the country. Authorities in India confirmed that his arrest was a significant step in tackling international money laundering networks linked to cryptocurrency exchanges.
The US has sought Besciokov’s extradition, citing violations of the Extradition Act 1962, and has expressed intentions to prosecute him for his involvement in large-scale cryptocurrency fraud and related criminal activities.
