India Arrests US DoJ Indicted Russian Crypto Exchange Garantex Administrator

Indian authorities have arrested the founder of Russian cryptocurrency exchange Garantex, Aleksej Besciokov, in the South Indian state of Kerala.

Besciokov has been arrested for facilitating money laundering by transnational criminal organizations, including terrorist organizations, and sanctions violations.

“Since April 2019, Garantex processed at least $96 billion in cryptocurrency transactions,” US Secret Service said.

India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) issued a statement after the arrest on 12 March 2025, saying that Besciokov has been wanted in the US for facing trial in the US District Court for the Eastern District Court of Virginia.

In a coordinated action with CBI, Kerala Police arrests wanted criminal of USA from Thiruvananthapuram pic.twitter.com/bVJZr1YEg2

— Central Bureau of Investigation (India) (@CBIHeadquarters) March 12, 2025

According to a CNN report dated 12 March 2025, the arrest caps an intense US-led manhunt for Besciokov, that escalated last week with the seizure of the crypto exchange, the freezing of $26 million in assets and the unsealing of an indictment against Besciokov and an alleged accomplice.

“I can confirm Aleksej Besciokov, one of the administrators of Garantex, was arrested in India at the request of the United States,” US Justice Department spokesperson Nicole Navas Oxman told CNN.

On 6 March 2025, the Secret Service seized three website domain names used to support Garantex’s operations.

Held On Charges Of Hacking, Ransomware, Terrorism And Drug Trafficking

Alexey Beschekov – co-founder of Garantex, a crypto exchange that laundered $60B!

He was arrested in India at the U.S.’s request for money laundering and sanctions violations.

He faces 5–20 years in prison. Garantex’s secrets will shock you.