Wanted in US: Crypto Kingpin Aleksej Besciokov Caught by CBI, Kerala Police

Photo: PTI

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Kerala Police have arrested Aleksej Besciokov, a Lithuanian national wanted by the United States. He was accused of setting up a cryptocurrency exchange called Garantex, which was allegedly used to launder money from criminal activities, including ransomware attacks. Officials confirmed his arrest on Wednesday.

Authorities caught Besciokov while he was reportedly trying to escape from India. According to documents from the US Secret Service, he ran Garantex from 2019 to 2025. The exchange was used by international criminal groups, including terrorist organizations, to launder at least $96 billion in cryptocurrency transactions. US officials claimed that Garantex helped criminals carry out hacking, ransomware attacks, terrorism, and drug trafficking, causing serious harm to American victims.

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Besciokov was the main technical administrator of Garantex. His role included managing the exchange’s infrastructure, reviewing transactions, and approving them. The US government has charged him with conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. He is also accused of violating the International Economic Emergency Powers Act, which could add another 20 years to his sentence. Additionally, he faces charges for running an unlicensed money-transmitting business, which carries a five-year sentence.

Following a request from the United States, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India issued a provisional arrest warrant for Besciokov on March 10, 2025, under the Extradition Act of 1962. The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) of Patiala House Court in Delhi approved the warrant. The CBI’s International Police Cooperation Unit (IPCU) worked closely with Kerala Police to capture him. He will be presented before the Patiala House Court by Kerala Police for further legal proceedings.

Besciokov is wanted for trial at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. As part of their actions against Garantex, US authorities seized three domain names linked to the exchange on March 6. This step was taken to stop the platform from being used for further money laundering and criminal activities. Additionally, US officials have frozen over $26 million in funds connected to Garantex.

The arrest of Besciokov is considered a major breakthrough in the global fight against cybercrime and money laundering. Authorities believe this case highlights the increasing misuse of cryptocurrency platforms by criminals and the efforts of international law enforcement to bring them to justice.