Thu Mar 13 05:23:36 UTC 2025: ## India Arrests Cryptocurrency Exchange Administrator Wanted by US
**NEW DELHI, March 13, 2025** – Indian authorities have arrested Aleksej Besciokov, a Lithuanian national and administrator of the sanctioned Russian cryptocurrency exchange Garantex, at the request of the United States. The arrest, a coordinated effort between the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Kerala Police, follows a U.S. Justice Department indictment charging Besciokov with money laundering conspiracy and sanctions violations.
Besciokov, who was reportedly planning to flee India, is accused of operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business. The U.S. Justice Department alleges Garantex processed at least $96 billion in cryptocurrency transactions since April 2019. The exchange was sanctioned by the U.S. in April 2022. The U.S. government, along with Germany and Finland, also shut down Garantex’s online infrastructure.
The CBI stated that a provisional arrest warrant was issued at Washington’s request, and the U.S. is expected to seek Besciokov’s extradition. A U.S. Justice Department spokesperson confirmed the arrest to CNN. The arrest highlights the ongoing international efforts to combat illicit finance facilitated through cryptocurrency exchanges. While this takedown is considered a significant step, experts warn that sanctioned exchanges often attempt to evade restrictions by creating new entities.
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