Nexo probe: Four charged after raid at crypto lender’s offices in Bulgaria
The world of cryptocurrency continues to be shaken by drama and investigations, as four people have been charged with money laundering, tax crimes and computer fraud in a criminal investigation embroiling the crypto lender Nexo.
Bulgarian prosecutors allege that Nexo is implicated in a large-scale international criminal scheme involving money laundering and violations of global financial sanctions against Russia.
According to local news agencies quoted by international media, Nexo’s offices in the capital Sofia were raided on Thursday by a group of more than 300 prosecutors, investigators and foreign agents. Authorities said that searches were conducted in more than 15 sites across the city.
Bulgarian prosecutors allege that $94 billion (€86 billion) have gone through the Nexo platform in the past five years and that one person has financed terrorist activities through the platform.
"In the case yesterday, 17 sites - offices and residential homes - were searched with prior permission of the court,” said Borislav Sarafov, head of the National Investigation Service, during a briefing on the case.
“More than 20 witnesses were questioned, some of them anonymous. Interrogations are also ongoing, in the investigators' office. Witnesses will enter a protected program because they fear for their lives.
“Four persons have been charged as defendants, they are accused of having participated in, and one of them led a criminal group for money laundering, tax crimes and computer fraud from the beginning of 2018 until now in the territory of Bulgaria, Switzerland, and the Cayman Islands, UK. The defendants have been ordered not to leave the country".
The crypto lender has repeatedly stated that it’s compliant with anti-money laundering
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