Indian authorities arrested Lithuanian citizen Aleksej Bešciokov, alleged founder of the cryptocurrency exchange Garantex, while he was vacationing in Kerala with his family. The arrest was coordinated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) based on charges from the US, including conspiracy to commit money laundering and operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business. Bešciokov is accused of profiting from laundering proceeds linked to various criminal activities, including ransomware and drug trafficking, from 2019 onwards. His arrest is part of a larger investigation, following US sanctions against Garantex in April 2022 due to alleged violations in relation to Russia's war in Ukraine. As per the Extradition Act of 1962, Bešciokov is expected to be transferred to US custody. The legal ramifications of his extradition are uncertain, but he may face appeals similar to those seen in other high-profile cases involving international extradition.

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