Tigran Gambaryan, the detained Binance employee in Nigeria, is a law enforcement professional without decision-making authority. Gambaryan, part of the Financial Crime Compliance (FCC) team, has responded to over 600 information requests from Nigerian authorities. Binance clarified that Gambaryan, held by Nigerian authorities for over a month, is a law enforcement professional, not a manager.
The crypto exchange emphasized that Gambaryan lacks decision-making power and should be released, despite ongoing discussions with the Nigerian government. Binance revealed that Gambaryan, a former U.S. federal agent, was hired to assist with Binance’s compliance issues. As the head of the FCC team, Gambaryan played a crucial role in shaping Binance’s policies and compliance capabilities. Following his detention upon arrival in Nigeria, Gambaryan, along with colleague Nadeem Anjarwalla, was held in an Abuja guesthouse.
Various organizations, including the Digital Chamber of Commerce, have advocated for Gambaryan’s release. Binance highlighted Gambaryan’s team achievements and called for his release, underscoring the team’s collaboration with global law enforcement agencies like the FBI, DOJ, and DEA.
Noteworthy accomplishments of Gambaryan’s FCC team include responding to over 600 information requests from Nigerian law enforcement agencies and aiding in investigations related to Nigeria. This collaboration led to freezing of illicit assets exceeding USD 400,000 and combatting crimes such as scams, fraud, money laundering, blackmail, kidnapping, and extortion.
Additionally, the team equipped Nigerian authorities with skills to address rising crypto-related financial crimes.
