Russian Man on U.K.’s Most Wanted List Holds Maltese ‘Golden Passport’

British authorities allege that Alexander Kuksov, 23, a Russian national with Maltese citizenship, was involved in a major international money laundering operation related to a criminal network moving multi-millions of pounds. The UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) put him on its most wanted list and has charged him under Operation Destabilise, the largest money laundering investigation by the agency in a decade. Kuksov's older brother, Semen, was convicted in the U.K. and stripped of his Maltese citizenship following a five-year sentence. The family, including their father Vladimir Anatolyevich Kuksov, were granted Maltese citizenship in 2022 shortly before Malta banned Russians from its citizenship-by-investment program. The NCA stated the criminal ring operated out of Moscow and Dubai, moving both cryptocurrency and cash for activities ranging from ransomware attacks to drug trade. Alexander Kuksov’s current whereabouts are unknown, no court has tried the charges, and money laundering allegations remain unproven. Maltese authorities have not confirmed any actions regarding the passport revocation of Alexander.