Summary
- A former police officer in Poland has been charged with organized crime, fraud, and money laundering related to the Zondacrypto exchange collapse.
- Authorities are currently investigating a fuel depot linked to the last sighting of Zondacrypto's founder, Sylwester Suszek, who vanished in March 2022.
- Since August, at least five additional individuals have been charged in connection with complaints from thousands of clients of the exchange.
In a significant development, Polish authorities have charged a former police officer concerning the downfall of the Zondacrypto exchange, while investigations are underway at a fuel depot where the exchange's founder was last spotted before disappearing four years ago.
Artur K., the former officer, was apprehended on Tuesday by the Central Bureau for Combating Cybercrime, Poland's dedicated cybercrime unit, following directives from the National Prosecutor's Office's organized crime department. The office has indicated that he faces two specific charges.
Dziś funkcjonariusze CBZC na polecenie Śląskiego Wydziału Zamiejscowego PK zatrzymali Artura K.
Zarzuty dla Artura K. to udział w grupie przestępczej, pomoc w przywłaszczeniu pieniędzy użytkowników giełdy kryptowalutowej ZondaCrypto i pranie pieniędzy pochodzących z tego…
— Waldemar Żurek (@w_zurek) September 22, 2026
The first charge pertains to his alleged involvement in an organized criminal group, while the second encompasses a range of offenses, including causing significant property damage to BitBay, BB Trade Estonia, and another entity, facilitating the misappropriation of assets, aiding in computer fraud, and engaging in money laundering activities.
Artur K. is identified only by his first name and an initial, in accordance with Polish legal norms. Reports from Polish Radio, citing the state news agency PAP, confirm his status as a former police officer.
Myriad: How high will Bitcoin go? Click to make your prediction.During a search of his residence, authorities discovered documents related to the operations of the exchange. He is currently being questioned as a suspect, and prosecutors will determine whether to request pre-trial detention, as stated by Anna Adamiak, the spokesperson for the prosecutor-general. The office has not disclosed whether he has responded to the allegations.
Meanwhile, police in Katowice are conducting searches at the fuel depot where Zondacrypto's founder, Sylwester Suszek, was last seen prior to his disappearance in March 2022. This investigation involves a team of prosecutors, expert witnesses, and advanced forensic technology. Authorities are treating Suszek's case as unlawful deprivation of liberty rather than a simple disappearance, with previous suspects accused of tampering with evidence, including removing a hard drive from the CCTV system at a gas station.
Founded in 2014 in Katowice as BitBay, the exchange shifted its registration to Estonia in 2020, rebranding to BB Trade Estonia and adopting the Zondacrypto name. It boasted 1.3 million clients, predominantly from Poland, but abruptly halted withdrawals and ceased operations in April 2022. The Estonian financial intelligence unit subsequently revoked its operating license on June 29.
Since August, at least five additional individuals have been charged, including Radosław P., the former head of the Polish Olympic Committee. All who have publicly responded to the charges have denied any wrongdoing, and none of the allegations have yet been adjudicated in court.