Indian authorities have arrested Aleksej Besciokov, a key figure linked to the Russia-based cryptocurrency exchange Garantex, who was wanted by the United States for alleged money laundering and sanctions violations. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) confirmed that Besciokov, a 46-year-old Lithuanian citizen residing in Russia, was taken into custody in the southern state of Kerala on Tuesday following a request from Washington.
The arrest follows a joint operation by the US, Germany, and Finland to dismantle Garantex’s online infrastructure. The US Justice Department recently stated that two of the exchange’s administrators had been charged, emphasizing that Garantex had been sanctioned in April 2022.
Besciokov was among those charged, facing accusations of laundering illicit funds, violating international sanctions, and operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business. The CBI revealed that India’s foreign ministry issued a provisional arrest warrant at the request of US authorities, though the exact details of when and why he arrived in India remain unclear.
Indian investigators, working alongside the Kerala police, apprehended Besciokov in Varkala, a well-known tourist destination where he was reportedly vacationing with his family. Following his arrest, officials announced that he would be presented before a lower court in Delhi to begin extradition proceedings.
“I can confirm Aleksej Besciokov, one of the administrators of Garantex, was arrested in India at the request of the United States,” a spokesperson for the US Justice Department told CNN.
Reports indicate that Garantex has laundered millions of dollars, including funds linked to ransomware groups such as Black Basta, Play, and Conti between 2021 and 2024. Since its inception in April 2019, the exchange has processed an estimated $96 billion in cryptocurrency transactions, according to US authorities.
The Justice Department asserts that these illicit proceeds were used to “facilitate several crimes,” including hacking, ransomware attacks, terrorism, and drug trafficking. Prosecutors have accused Besciokov and his associate, Russian national Aleksandr Mira Serda, of knowingly laundering criminal proceeds through Garantex and actively working to obscure their involvement in illegal activities.
Besciokov now faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money-transmitting business. His extradition to the US could lead to further legal proceedings, potentially shedding more light on the broader network of illicit financial operations facilitated by Garantex.
By Alejandro Silva Ramírez, Crypto Analyst & Columnist