Special operation by the Ministry of Internal Affairs: criminal group exposed

The Main Department for Combating Cybercrime of the Ministry of Internal Affairs conducted a special operation to expose another organized group that was organizing gambling in social networks.

As reported to Oxu.az by the Ministry of Internal Affairs press service, the group leader Elchin Guliyev (born 1980), as well as Orkhan Mammadov (born 1986) and 4 other people were detained and held accountable.

The investigation found that the number of people involved in the criminal network in one way or another exceeds 40 people. To ensure confidentiality, network members created multiple social media accounts using Russian, Ukrainian, and Georgian mobile numbers. Through these profiles, they attracted citizens to participate in gambling on foreign websites.

The main network members, who received direct administrator status on illegal sites such as Fast Loto, CHCPlay, and MostBet, created a virtual management system throughout the country and operated in rented apartments under the instructions of group leaders.

During the operation, about 1,000 bank cards were discovered, which were purchased from individual citizens for various amounts and used in criminal activities.

During searches of secret offices and apartments used by group members, numerous electronic evidence, bank cards, more than 30 foreign mobile phone numbers registered under fictitious names, 2 million manats in cash, and other material evidence were seized.

It was established that the turnover in bank accounts used by network participants exceeded 10 million manats.

E.Guliyev opened companies in his name and the names of his close relatives that did not conduct any activities, laundering large sums of money obtained through criminal means to introduce them into legal circulation. He regularly traveled abroad, particularly to Georgia, to create the appearance of business activity.

It was also revealed that E.Guliyev repeatedly met with leaders of a transnational criminal group organizing illegal gambling business in foreign countries and made secret deals to import new cyber systems to Azerbaijan.

Apartments, land plots, summer houses, commercial real estate, and luxury cars purchased by group members with illegal funds were identified and seized.

A criminal case has been initiated in the Main Department under relevant articles. E.Guliyev and 4 other individuals have been detained as a preventive measure.