A Russian national was arrested in Busan by South Korean police following a failed crypto robbery attempt in Seoul involving $730,000.
Authorities apprehended one of three accused Russians after an attempted heist during a fake cryptocurrency transaction. The suspects allegedly lured South Korean investors to a hotel to steal 1 billion won (about $730,000) in cash.
According to a report by JoongAng Daily, the Gangseo Police Precinct in Seoul detained a man in his 20s on May 27. He faces charges of assault and attempted robbery, while the other two suspects reportedly fled South Korea shortly after the incident.
Investigators revealed that the robbery attempt occurred on May 21 at a hotel in Seoul’s Gangseo District. The suspects posed as participants in a peer-to-peer crypto deal, inviting ten Korean men to the hotel. Two victims were taken to a room while the others waited in the lobby. Inside, the suspects, wearing protective vests, ambushed the victims with a replica handgun and a telescopic baton, binding their hands with cable ties.
One victim managed to escape and alert authorities, prompting the suspects to flee without the cash. Police responded quickly and found one man injured in the lobby.
Officers discovered a stash of equipment in the suspects’ hotel room, including a replica firearm, batons, vests, and a money counter, indicating a well-planned robbery.
The day after the incident, police filed a request to prevent the suspects from leaving the country, but two had already departed. A police official stated that they have sought Interpol’s assistance to locate the fugitives.
The detained suspect is currently being questioned, and authorities are preparing to seek a pretrial detention warrant.
This incident highlights a concerning rise in crypto-related violent crimes, including recent cases of kidnapping and ransom. In a related case, a Manhattan crypto investor faces serious charges for allegedly kidnapping and torturing an Italian man to gain access to digital assets.
On May 13, Pierre Noizat, co-founder and CEO of the French crypto exchange Paymium, was the target of an attempted kidnapping involving his family.
In light of this incident, executives and investors in the crypto industry are increasingly pursuing personal security services. On May 18, the private firm Infinite Risks International noted a surge in requests for bodyguards and protection contracts from prominent figures in the crypto sector.
Source: Cointelegraph
Edited By Bernie S.
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