Description

The United Kingdom's National Crime Agency (NCA) has led a significant operation, *Operation Destabilise*, targeting two Russian-based money laundering organizations—Smart and TGR. These groups have been involved in illegal financial activities worldwide, including working with ransomware gangs like Ryuk. The operation resulted in the arrest of 84 individuals, with key figures such as George Rossi (Smart) and Ekaterina Zhdanova (TGR) being apprehended. Zhdanova was responsible for laundering over $2.3 million from Ryuk ransom payments and played a role in extorting at least £27 million from 149 UK victims, including healthcare institutions, schools, and local government bodies. The true scale of their operations is suspected to be even larger. Through this investigation, the NCA uncovered an extensive global network linking Russian power figures, cybercriminals, and international drug cartels. This is the first time law enforcement has fully identified these connections, which were previously undetected by authorities. Operation Destabilise was conducted in cooperation with global law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, DEA, and partners in France, Ireland, and the UAE. The operation exposed how these networks helped Russian nationals bypass sanctions, facilitating investments in Western markets. Smart and TGR were also connected to the cryptocurrency platform Garantex, which was sanctioned in 2022 by the U.S. and U.K. for illegal activities, including ties to the Hydra Market and transactions supporting Russian military supplies. The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s OFAC imposed sanctions on several individuals involved, including Zhdanova, Chirkinyan, and Bradens, for their role in laundering cryptocurrency for criminal groups. This operation represents a major step in disrupting international money laundering and cybercrime operations.