Indian law enforcement officials, acting on a request from the United States, have arrested Aleksej Besciokov, a Lithuanian national. Besciokov is accused of being a co-founder of the Garantex cryptocurrency exchange, which has been sanctioned by the US government.
According to the Times of India, Varkala police in Kerala apprehended the 46-year-old Besciokov. The arrest was made based on an Interpol red corner notice issued at the request of the US.
US authorities allege that Besciokov facilitated the laundering of billions of dollars for transnational criminal and cybercriminal organizations. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) unsealed an indictment last week against Besciokov and Aleksandr Mira Serda, a Russian national also alleged to be a co-founder of Garantex. Serda resides in the United Arab Emirates.
The DOJ claims Besciokov authorized transactions on Garantex connected to North Korean government-affiliated hackers and other cybercriminals. They have charged him with facilitating money laundering on the cryptocurrency exchange.
US prosecutors state that Besciokov and Serda “redesigned Garantex’s operations to evade and violate US sanctions and induce American businesses to unwittingly transact with Garantex in violation of the sanctions.”
Following the Justice Department’s indictment, the US Secret Service seized Garantex’s websites and froze over $26 million in cryptocurrency. Garantex subsequently suspended its operations and has suggested “face-to-face meetings” at its Moscow office to resolve issues related to blocked assets.
Indian police indicated they sought an arrest warrant because Besciokov was allegedly planning to flee India. Following his arrest, Besciokov appeared before a district court and is scheduled to appear at Patiala Court next week to face charges.
