Investigators found hidden crypto wallets and luxury real estate tied to the hackers. Authorities say damages exceed $100 million and the probe continues.
The law enforcement officers detained another participant in an international hacker group that targeted citizens and companies in European countries and the United States. The seized assets are valued at $11.1 million.
Attorney General Ruslan Kravchenko announced these events on Facebook.
Operation Against a Transnational Hacker Group
“Another participant in the international hacker group, which carried out cyberattacks on citizens and companies in European countries and the United States, has been detained. He has been informed of suspicion of laundering assets obtained through criminal activity.”
– Kravchenko noted
According to investigators, the criminals used malicious software to steal confidential information and victims’ documents, after which they demanded a ransom for their return or for non-disclosure.
Illegally obtained funds were transferred to cryptocurrency wallets under their control, then converted to cash and laundered in Ukraine – including through the purchase of real estate and other expensive assets.
The Attorney General noted that the estimated amount of losses exceeds $100 million.
“During additional searches, law enforcement officers determined the whereabouts of another accomplice who was responsible for moving and laundering illicit funds. He was detained in accordance with Articles 208 and 615 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. The court chose a preventive measure – detention with an alternative bail of 399 million UAH,” Kravchenko emphasized.
In total, more than 30 searches have been conducted as part of the investigation. The seized assets amount to over 80 million UAH, including residential buildings, apartments, cars, 1 million dollars in cash, and cryptocurrency equivalent to about 8.3 million dollars.
As Kravchenko noted, earlier in this case one of the organizers, who was evading foreign justice, and another participant in the scheme were informed of suspicions.
Currently the investigation continues. Additional individuals are being identified to bring them to justice.
National Police clarified that officers from the Department of Internal Security, the Zakarpattia Police, in cooperation with investigators from the State Bureau of Investigation under the procedural leadership of the Office of the General Prosecutor conducted an interagency special operation and detained a suspect who was being sought by American law enforcement. Abroad the suspect was under an international manhunt; not wanting to face punishment for his crimes, he devised a scheme: forged documents of his own death and continued living in Ukraine as a “new” person, using forged documents, the police noted.
According to the National Police, the illegally earned funds were laundered by purchasing valuable assets, involving relatives in the schemes. During analysis, investigators were able to detect a difference between relatives’ incomes and the value of the assets they purchased, amounting to several tens of millions of hryvnias.
It is also reported that earlier in this case there were suspicions of money laundering – two of his accomplices were implicated. Currently all defendants are in custody.
As reported, in January Ukrainian law enforcement authorities and several foreign states uncovered participants of a transnational hacker group that attacked organizations in various countries around the world; the losses totaled nearly $1.5 million.
The investigation continues, and law enforcement officers continue to search for other involved individuals and collect evidence of their participation in the criminal network.
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