- Joined
- May 15, 2016
- Messages
- 4,021
- Likes
- 2,572
- Points
- 1,730
New Zealand police arrested the assets of a company owned by Russian Alexander Vinnik, for 140 million New Zealand dollars (about $ 90 million) in the framework of cooperation with the US authorities and the investigation of money laundering. This is the largest asset freeze in the history of the country, according to the local publication Stuff .
Law enforcement authorities seized the funds of the New Zealand company Vinnik Canton Business Corporation. It was allegedly used to launder through the BTC-e bitcoin exchange proceeds from various illegal activities, including hacking, fraud, corruption and drug trafficking.
As part of the investigation, New Zealand police worked closely with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, Commissioner Andrew Coster said.
Recall, Alexander Vinnik is accused of laundering at least $ 4 billion through BTC-e.
Now the Russian is in prison in France, where he was extradited from Greece.
The French court has several times rejected requests for the release of Vinnik from custody.
__________________