Kerala Police, CBI arrest Lithuanian wanted in US for cryptocurrency fraud
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Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Police in a coordinated move with the International Police Cooperation Unit (IPCU) of the CBI arrested a Lithuanian citizen Aleksej Besciokov, who is wanted by US authorities for offences including money laundering.
The state police pulled off the arrest just as Besciokov was attempting to flee the country, The Free Press Journal reported.
Besciokov, wanted for trial at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, faces multiple charges including violations of the US International Emergency Economic Powers Act , conspiracy to commit money laundering, and operating an unlicensed money services business.
Besciokov and his co-conspirators are accused of operating cryptocurrency exchange ‘Garantex’ thus ‘laundering illicit proceeds from ransomware, computer hacking, and narcotics transactions’.
It is reported citing US authorities that ‘Garantex’ between 2021 and 2024 laundered millions of dollars from sources including ransomware payments that had do with the Black Basta, Play, and Conti ransomware groups.
Acting under the Extradition Act, 1962, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on request of the United States secured a provisional arrest warrant from ACJM Patiala House Court, Delhi, on March 10, 2025.
The IPCU, CBI then coordinated with Kerala Police leading to the arrest of Besciokov.
The Lithuanian citizen will be presented before the Patiala House Court as part of fulfilling further legal proceedings.