Insider reveals global investment scam linked to Russian mafia in Finland

In mid-November 2023, an insider from Russia’s criminal underworld, Igor Kekshin, traveled from his home near St. Petersburg to a Finnish hunting lodge owned by a former police chief. He aims to share details about his involvement in a global investment scam linked to the Russian mafia, which defrauded victims worldwide, including in Denmark.

For over a year, Kekshin worked within a fraudulent scheme that introduced massive investments in supposed medical cannabis cultivation, misleadingly branded as a legitimate business. He describes how this operation functioned akin to a criminal startup, utilizing funds from other organized criminals in Russia to set up a professional façade, engage public relations, and recruit personnel.

Initially a police officer specializing in economic crimes, Kekshin transitioned to a criminal role after being arrested in 2010. He recounts violent tactics employed against suspects to extract confessions. Despite his criminal past, he claims that he sought justice for victims, a statement contradicted by his prior convictions for kidnapping and extortion.

At the heart of the scheme was Sergei Berezin, who promised Kekshin a significant reward for his role. However, when the scam unraveled in July 2022, Berezin vanished, leaving Kekshin empty-handed. After their initial meeting, Kekshin later reversed his claims in a video, retracting accusations against Berezin and other mobsters.

Now, as Berezin faces charges for leading an international criminal organization, Kekshin maintains his innocence and insists he was merely a participant rather than a mastermind. The complex and evolving narrative highlights the intertwining of crime and betrayal in the world of investment scams, raising questions about loyalty and accountability among those involved.