U.S. federal agents detained Pavel Kulizhnikov in Florida on October 20, 2026, on suspicion of involvement in the international Just Team money laundering network. The case concerns an operation that investigators allege served major drug cartels and helped clients bypass U.S. sanctions against Russia, while a confidential informant said the network may have processed about $50 million in illicit funds daily.

Court Watch reported the detention, citing court filings from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. According to a 44-page document dated October 14, the network operated across the United States, Colombia, the United Kingdom, Spain, Belarus, the United Arab Emirates, Australia and Russia.

Alleged use of cash, bank accounts and cryptocurrencies

Investigators allege the organization served the Sinaloa and Gulf drug cartels. They also claim it helped clients move funds in ways that bypassed U.S. sanctions against Russia.

Kulizhnikov allegedly acted as a cryptocurrency broker for a Just World Pro Crypto Team unit, also known as Just Hollywood Stars. His alleged duties included coordinating intermediaries and couriers who accepted large amounts of cash and moved the money through bank accounts or cryptocurrency wallets.

A confidential DEA informant said Just Team and affiliated entities may have laundered about $50 million a day. Transaction-processing fees ranged from 2% to 8%, depending on the region, according to the informant.

Law enforcement determined that the organization’s core consisted of about 10 people. Members primarily coordinated operations through closed Telegram groups and used a network of couriers in multiple countries to move cash.

Undercover operations and federal charges

The DEA, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection participated in the investigation.

From 2021 through 2026, agents conducted a series of multimillion-dollar undercover operations. Kulizhnikov appears in 11 DEA-controlled money transfers, according to investigators, who allege that he created Telegram group chats to coordinate clients and intermediaries.

The network also had a mechanism for resolving financial disputes, according to the DEA. A group of 10 to 15 people reviewed conflicts between participants, while intermediaries who failed to meet their obligations had to compensate for losses or leave the organization.

Kulizhnikov faces federal charges in the Eastern District of Virginia. The case also involves two other alleged members of the network whose names are redacted in court filings. The investigation remains ongoing, and the suspects’ guilt has not been established.

Bloomberg previously reported on a large-scale scheme to launder drug-cartel proceeds through cryptocurrency intermediaries in the United States. Those operations used bitcoin, Monero and USDT.

Source: Incrypted