Indian authorities have arrested Aleksej Besciokov, a Lithuanian national and administrator of the Russian cryptocurrency exchange Garantex, at the request of the United States. Besciokov was apprehended in Kerala, India, on charges of money laundering conspiracy and violating sanctions. The U.S. Department of Justice alleges that Garantex processed at least $96 billion in cryptocurrency transactions since April 2019, facilitating illicit activities, including those linked to North Korean hackers. The exchange was sanctioned by the U.S. in April 2022. Besciokov's arrest follows a coordinated effort by the U.S., Germany, and Finland to dismantle Garantex's online infrastructure.