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Spanish Police Arrest Alleged OctaFX Mastermind as India’s ED Attaches ₹2,385 Crore in Crypto

ED describes a cross-border laundering web using mule accounts, fake imports, crypto flows to move Indian investors’ money.

Overview

  • Spanish authorities detained Pavel Prozorov in connection with cybercrimes impacting multiple countries, the Enforcement Directorate said.
  • ED’s provisional order attaches cryptocurrency holdings of about ₹2,385 crore across roughly 100 wallets beneficially owned by Prozorov.
  • Total assets attached in the case now stand at about ₹2,681 crore, including 19 immovable properties and a luxury yacht in Spain linked to Prozorov.
  • Investigators allege OctaFX siphoned ₹1,875 crore from Indian investors between July 2022 and April 2023, generating about ₹800 crore in profits, with estimated India profits over 2019–2024 exceeding ₹5,000 crore.
  • Officials cite operations without RBI permission, routing via dummy entities and mule accounts, outward transfers as bogus software and R&D imports to entities across several countries, and plans to seek Prozorov’s questioning or extradition through ongoing MLAT-led cooperation.