Russian police raids against REvil ransomware gang members results in seizure of $6.6 million

On Friday 14^th of January 2022, the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) in cooperation with the Investigation Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia conducted police raids at 25 addresses in the cities of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Moscow, Leningrad and Lipetsk regions, which were linked to 14 members of REvil ransomware gang.  The raids resulted in the detaining of all 14 members, and the seizing of over 426 million rubles, including in cryptocurrency, as well as 600 thousand US dollars, 500 thousand euros and therefore in total, approximately $6.6 million dollars’ worth of various currency was seized. The FSB also seized 20 premium luxury cars purchased with money obtained from REvil’s ransomware attacks and stated they have taken down the infrastructure used in REvil’s operations by seizing computer equipment and crypto wallets.

These raids and arrests have been seen as a strange occurrence based on the current tense relationship between the United States of America and Russia. Although the FSB stated that the basis for these raids was “the appeal of the competent US authorities, who reported on the leader of the criminal community and his involvement in encroachments on the information resources of foreign high-tech companies by introducing malicious software, encrypting information and extorting money for its decryption.”

On Saturday 15^th of January 2022, Moscow’s Tverskoi Court announced that at least, eight members that were detained at the USA’s request have been pressed with charges under Part 2 of Article 187 of Russia’s Criminal Code (Illegal Circulation of Payments). This means the members could be punished with up to seven years in prison and a penalty of up to 1 million rubles (Approximately $13,150).

“At present, materials are either incoming or have already been examined with regard to Roman Muromsky, Andrey Bessonov and also the following individuals: Golovachuk M.A., Zayets A.N., Khansvyarov R.A., Korotayev D.V., Puzyrevsky D.D. and Malozemov A.V. Overall, the court has materials on eight individuals,” – Moscow’s Tverskoi Court.