Russian leader of cannabis investment scam sentenced to Najayo Detention

Santo Domingo.- The Second Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ) has ordered the preventive detention of Sergei Berezin and/or Paul Bergholts at the Najayo Hombres Correction and Rehabilitation Center (CCR). Berezin is alleged to be the mastermind behind an international criminal network responsible for defrauding more than 645 million euros through fraudulent investments in cannabis plants for medicinal purposes.

Sergei Berezin was apprehended pursuant to a court order last April at a tourist complex in the province of La Altagracia. Deputy Attorney General Andrés Chalas represented the Public Ministry during the hearing, which was presided over by judges Francisco Jerez, Nancy Salcedo, and Fran Soto of the Second Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice.

The defense’s request to invalidate the arrest and search warrants was dismissed by the judges.

The Deputy Attorney General noted that, in response to a request for International Legal Assistance from Spanish judicial authorities, support was provided for an investigation led by the Spanish National Police. Collaboration was extended by Europol, Eurojust, and agents from various other countries to dismantle the international criminal network responsible for the multimillion-dollar fraud.

Operation details

The operation involved over fifty members of the National Police, including SWAT tactical units, Lince, and Gray Beret teams, as well as members of Dicrim, the K-9 Canine Unit, and explosives disarmament experts.

Judicial authorization was obtained to conduct raids on three apartments belonging to the Russian citizen.

During the searches, authorities seized DOP$922,800.00, USD$33,310.00, €880.00, 105 Romanian leu, 300 dirhams, and 26,100 rubles in cash.

Multiple passports containing potentially false information, electronic devices, and other items were also confiscated.

Several cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, USDT, TRX, and Ethereum, with an approximate value of USD$55,996.86, were seized as well.