The head of an online casino network has been detained in Georgia and brought to Azerbaijan, the Interior Ministry told Report.

The Main Directorate for Combating Cybercrime has completed an operation to identify and detain members of an organized group involved in operating online gambling platforms managed from abroad through internet resources, as well as committing offenses related to this activity.

During the operation, conducted jointly by cyber police and Georgian law enforcement agencies, Anar Islam oghlu Aliyev, also known as “Anar007,” the leader of the criminal group, was detained and brought to Azerbaijan. He was wanted on charges of organizing illegal gambling under the name “Martin” casino and other names associated with the chc.play platform.

The investigation established that Aliyev formed an organized group and recruited Azerbaijani citizens to participate in illegal gambling activities he organized abroad. He accommodated these individuals in rented apartments in Tbilisi and other cities, where they organized online casino and gambling activities.

Other members of the group – Ashraf Hasanzada, Seymur Nurullayev, Etibar Sultanov, Rashad Rzazada, Shargin Aliyev and Anar Suraj oglu Aliyev – were also detained and brought in for investigation.

At the group leader’s instructions, the suspects provided him with local SIM cards, bank cards and other technical equipment needed to operate the online casinos. They also cashed out proceeds from the online casino activities and subsequently transferred the funds in cryptocurrency to accounts belonging to Aliyev.

The investigation established that part of the illegally obtained funds was laundered through the purchase of movable and immovable property. Numerous electronic storage devices, bank cards and other items were found on the group members at the time of their detention and seized as evidence.

The suspects were formally charged and held criminally liable. By court order, Anar Aliyev and Shargin Aliyev were remanded in custody.

Operational and investigative measures against other individuals allegedly involved in the offenses are continuing.