The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Kerala Police arrested a Lithuanian national wanted by the United States for allegedly operating cryptocurrency exchange Garantex to launder illicit funds, officials said Wednesday.

Aleksej Besciokov was apprehended while allegedly planning to escape from India. According to documents from the US Secret Service, he controlled and operated Garantex between 2019 and 2025, facilitating cryptocurrency transactions of at least USD 96 billion, linked to transnational criminal organisations, including terrorist groups.

“Garantex received hundreds of millions in criminal proceeds and was used to facilitate crimes such as hacking, ransomware, terrorism, and drug trafficking, often impacting US victims,” the documents stated.

Besciokov, the platform’s primary technical administrator, allegedly oversaw its infrastructure, reviewed transactions, and ensured its continued operation despite violating US sanctions.

He faces multiple charges in the US, including conspiracy to commit money laundering (20-year maximum sentence), conspiracy to violate the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (20-year maximum sentence), conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money-transmitting business (5-year maximum sentence).

The Ministry of External Affairs, acting on a US request under the Extradition Act, 1962, obtained a provisional arrest warrant from a Delhi court on March 10. The CBI’s Interpol Coordination Unit (IPCU) coordinated with Kerala Police for Besciokov’s arrest, and he will be produced before the Patiala House Court in Delhi, officials said.

Meanwhile, the US Secret Service seized three domain names used to support Garantex’s operations on March 6, following an order from a judge in Virginia. US authorities also froze 26 million dollars in funds as part of their action against the exchange.

Besciokov is wanted for trial before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Source: India Today