Lithuanian Crypto Kingpin Alexsej Besciokov Arrested in India at US Request
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala – March 13, 2025
In a significant crackdown on international cybercrime, Alexsej Besciokov, a 46-year-old Lithuanian national and co-founder of the sanctioned cryptocurrency exchange Garantex, was arrested in India based on a request from U.S. authorities. The operation was executed by both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and local police in Kerala, following an indictment issued by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Arrest Details
Besciokov was arrested in Varkala, a coastal town near Thiruvananthapuram, while vacationing with his family. According to the CBI, the police intervention occurred as he was allegedly preparing to flee the country. The request for his arrest came through India’s foreign ministry, which issued a provisional warrant at the behest of the United States.
Connections to Garantex
Garantex, a cryptocurrency exchange founded by Besciokov and his business associate, Aleksandr Mira Serda, has been embroiled in legal troubles since being sanctioned by the U.S. government in 2022. U.S. authorities allege that Garantex played a substantial role in facilitating money laundering for a range of criminal activities, including ransomware attacks and narcotics transactions.
Criminal Charges
Besciokov faces serious charges, including money laundering, conspiracy to violate U.S. sanctions, and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. Reports indicate that the exchange laundered billions of dollars for transnational criminal and cybercriminal groups, processing an estimated $96 billion in cryptocurrency transactions since its inception in April 2019. The allegations specify that Garantex was involved in laundering proceeds from notorious ransomware groups such as Black Basta, Play, and Conti. Furthermore, it has been linked to activities involving North Korea’s Lazarus Group, a known hacking organization.
Recent Developments
Earlier this month, an international task force comprising law enforcement from the U.S., Germany, and Finland executed a coordinated effort to seize Garantex’s assets. They managed to seize its domains and servers, while also freezing nearly $28 million in cryptocurrency associated with the exchange. The takedown of Garantex has been hailed as a critical step in the global fight against illicit finance, although experts warn that sanctioned exchanges often attempt to evade restrictions by establishing new operations.
Looking Ahead
Besciokov’s arrest marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing battle against cybercrime linked to cryptocurrency. Authorities are continuing to investigate the extent of Garantex’s operations and its impact on the global financial system. As he awaits extradition to the U.S., the legal proceedings against him could further illuminate the dark underbelly of the cryptocurrency world and the challenges faced by regulators.
This story will continue to develop as further details on Besciokov’s legal situation and the implications of his arrest come to light. For more updates on this and other breaking news, stay tuned.
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