Georgia Arrests Two in International Cryptocurrency Laundering Investigation
By Messenger Staff
Friday, June 12, 2026
Georgian authorities have arrested two foreign nationals as part of a large international investigation into cryptocurrency laundering, conducted jointly with law enforcement agencies from the United States and Poland.
At a June 11 briefing, Beka Kvitsiani, deputy chief of the Investigative Department of the Prosecutor General's Office, said the operation targeted an organized criminal group accused of laundering cryptocurrency worth several hundred million U.S. dollars between 2022 and 2025.
The investigation involved Georgia's Prosecutor General's Office, Interior Ministry and Finance Ministry, alongside the U.S. Secret Service, Poland's Central Bureau for Combating Cybercrime and the Lódz District Prosecutor's Office. Eurojust and Europol also provided support.
According to Kvitsiani, around 100 law enforcement officers participated in coordinated operations across dozens of locations in Georgia. Authorities searched suspects, homes, vehicles and workplaces, seizing electronic devices and documents.
Investigators also seized 173 vehicles allegedly purchased to facilitate money laundering, along with high-value real estate and funds held in bank accounts.
The two suspects were arrested in the Adjara region on June 10. Authorities identified them as members of an organized criminal group operating under the pseudonym Audi A6.
Prosecutors allege the group provided cryptocurrency laundering services to cybercriminals and other online offenders, helping conceal the origins of illicit funds in exchange for substantial profits.
Investigators also said the group operated an online forum known as Dark2Web, which was allegedly used to advertise illegal services and connect cybercriminals from around the world.
Kvitsiani described the operation as highly successful and thanked Georgian, U.S. and Polish authorities for their cooperation. Representatives from the United States and Poland also praised the joint effort during the briefing.
