The Main Department for Combating Cybercrime of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Azerbaijan has concluded a major operation aimed at dismantling an organized criminal group involved in the illegal organization of online gambling and related cybercrimes managed from abroad.
This information was provided to the Operative Information Center-OMM by the ministry.
According to the report, the cyber police, in coordination with law enforcement agencies in Georgia, successfully apprehended Anar Islam oglu Aliyev (known by the alias "Anar007"), the leader of a criminal network wanted for organizing illegal gambling activities under the "Martin" casino platform and other entities linked to "chc.play". Following his detention in Tbilisi, he was extradited to Azerbaijan.
Investigations revealed that Aliyev established an organized criminal group that recruited Azerbaijani citizens to participate in illegal betting and casino operations managed from abroad. He reportedly housed these recruits in rented properties in Tbilisi and other cities to facilitate the operation of the online gambling platforms.
As part of the broader operation, other members of Aliyev's network—Ashraf Hasanzade, Seymur Nurullayev, Etibar Sultanov, Rashad Rzazade, Sharqin Aliyev, and Anar Surac oglu Aliyev—were also detained and brought into the investigation. These individuals were tasked with providing the group leader with local mobile operator numbers, bank cards, and technical equipment necessary for the online casino's operations. Furthermore, they were responsible for laundering the proceeds from the gambling activities by converting them into cryptocurrency and transferring them to accounts controlled by Anar Aliyev.
The investigation has also uncovered evidence that a portion of the illicit funds was laundered through the purchase of movable and immovable property. During the arrests, law enforcement seized numerous electronic storage devices, bank cards, and other items as material evidence. The suspects have been formally charged, and the court has ordered pre-trial detention for Anar Aliyev and Sharqin Aliyev. Operational and investigative measures regarding other individuals involved in these illegal activities are currently ongoing.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan continues to prioritize the fight against cybercrime, particularly illegal gambling operations that target the country's citizens. Such operations are part of a broader national effort to curb illicit financial activities and protect the digital security of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
