Nigeria Freed Gambaryan in Exchange for Access to US Financial Surveillance Capabilities - Report
Nigeria appears to have exchanged Binance Executive and former IRS criminal investigator Tigran Gambaryan for access to U.S. "resources and expertise" in financial surveillance capabilities as part of a secret deal with the U.S. State Department, reports The Rage.
- Tigran Gambaryan, former IRS Criminal Investigator and Binance's Head of Compliance, was imprisoned in Nigeria in February 2024 for alleged money laundering and unlicensed money transmission amid the country's currency struggles. He was released in October 2024, two days before his trial, for health reasons. His release coincided with increased US aid to Nigeria in prosecuting cryptocurrency and financial crimes.
- According to The Rage, on October 23, 2024, the same day Gambaryan's release was announced, the Nigerian Government and the US State Department revealed a "Bilateral Liaison Group on Illicit Finance and Cryptocurrencies" to enhance Nigeria's ability to investigate and prosecute cybercrime.
"The United States reaffirms our commitment to a close partnership with Nigeria, and the U.S. Department of Justice is continuing its coordination with the Government of Nigeria to build its capacity to pursue cybercrime investigations and prosecutions. To accelerate that cooperation, the United States and Nigeria are launching a Bilateral Liaison Group on Illicit Finance and Cryptocurrencies," states now deleted announcement by the US State Department.
- The Nigerian regime is known for being one of the most corrupt and abusive in the world. Additionally, Nigeria became the first country to launch a central bank digital currency (CBDC) in 2021.
- The Nigerian Government admitted that Gambaryan's release "ended with tangible benefits for Nigeria" after allegedly refusing a $5 million payment for his release, according to an X post addressing his accusations of mistreatment.
- The US State Department did not respond to a request for comment on whether the Liaison Group was part of the deal to free Gambaryan or if it perpetuated Nigeria's human rights abuses but took down the announcement following an inquiry by The Rage.
"Let's be very clear: What the US has deemed acceptable here is that the cost of one innocent man's freedom is its potential loss for tens of thousands of innocent Africans," said investigative reporter L0la L33tz.
The Rage is an investigative journalism portal that exposes financial surveillance and its abuses. The project is currently raising $8,000 to cover the upcoming Tornado Cash trial and Samourai Wallet hearings.
"It's incredibly important that this case gets covered from a perspective critical of the DOJ's witch hunt that aims to put the proceedings in broader context on the effects it will have on all of us," said L0la L33tz.
- You can support The Rage on Geyser or make an on-chain donation here.
- Do you want more? Subscribe and get No Bullshit GM report straight to your mailbox and No Bullshit Bitcoin on Nostr.
- Feedback or tips? Drop it here.
- #FREESAMOURAI
