Russian Arrested in Argentina for Laundering $100 Million Stolen by North Korean Hackers

Argentine authorities have arrested a Russian national accused of laundering cryptocurrency stolen in a $100 million heist by North Korea’s Lazarus Group, highlighting the DPRK’s integration into global money laundering networks. The arrest, made by the Argentine Federal Police, involved the seizure of over $120,000 in cryptocurrency and $15 million in assets. The suspect, a 29-year-old Russian living in Buenos Aires, allegedly facilitated transactions for various illicit actors, including terrorist financiers and vendors of child sexual abuse materials.

The arrest followed an investigation by the San Isidro Specialized Fiscal Unit in Cybercrime Investigations (UFECI), which tracked complex transactions across multiple blockchains using TRM Labs tools. The probe began after UFECI learned that proceeds from the Lazarus Group’s 2022 Harmony Horizon Bridge heist had entered an Argentina-based cryptocurrency wallet.

The suspect reportedly conducted 2,463 transfers totaling over $4.5 million through Binance Pay. Authorities believe he operated within a larger network, triangulating illicit funds between Russia and Argentina. This arrest is part of a broader international effort to dismantle North Korea’s illicit fundraising operations, including those supporting its nuclear and weapons programs.