Police Officer in Karachay-Cherkessia Accused of Cryptocurrency Extortion

The Investigative Committee of Karachay-Cherkessia is probing an incident involving the extortion of cryptocurrency by the head of the local department for drug trafficking control. This was reported on the official Telegram channel of the agency.

According to case materials, in October 2021, the accused received operational information about the activities of three local residents involved in the distribution of potent substances.

During a conversation with one of the suspects, the officer noticed a cryptocurrency wallet app on her phone. Threatening criminal prosecution, he demanded the transfer of the entire amount, equivalent to 1.8 million rubles, to his address. The suspect complied with this demand.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs employee is currently detained, charged, and will soon face a pre-trial detention hearing.

Following an internal investigation, if the officer’s guilt is proven, he will be dismissed from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and his superiors will face strict disciplinary action.

In October 2023, a third Ministry of Internal Affairs employee in Moscow was arrested in connection with a 2718 BTC bribery case.