A high-ranking operative from Russian intelligence has been taken into custody by the Federal Bureau of Investigation following a significant operational slip that unveiled a covert killing unit reportedly linked to the Kremlin's activities abroad.
Denis Alimov was apprehended upon his arrival at El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá, Colombia. Authorities suspect that Alimov was tied to a clandestine Russian intelligence body called Centre 795, an organization purportedly established in the early months of the conflict in Ukraine.
The unit is thought to combine resources from Russia's military intelligence agency, the GRU, alongside the domestic security service, the FSB. It is reported that the Kremlin created this unit after the exposure of another covert group, GRU Unit 29155, due to incidents in the international spotlight, including the infamous poisoning in Salisbury.
Centre 795 is believed to report directly to Valery Gerasimov, one of the highest-ranking military officials under President Vladimir Putin. Activities attributed to this unit reportedly encompass operational coordination on the battlefield in Ukraine as well as clandestine undertakings such as sabotage, kidnappings, and targeted assassinations in other countries.
The investigation took an unexpected turn when authorities discovered communications linked to the alleged operations due to a technical mistake. Reports indicate that one of the operatives had utilized Google Translate to converse with a suspected assassin. The translated communications were inadvertently routed through U.S. servers, enabling law enforcement to gain access with a court order.
In one of the intercepted discussions, the alleged hitman reportedly stated: “I believe we will find him soon, he can’t be moving around all the time. He’ll relax and fall into the trap at some point.”
In another message concerning Alimov, the individual was quoted saying: “He’s very well connected… one of the closest men to an important government official.”
Additionally, prosecutors allege that the operation was aimed at two Chechen dissidents residing in Europe, with investigators asserting that the operative offered over £1 million per target for their return to Russia, either alive or deceased.
Alimov, recognized as a distinguished former member of the elite Alfa special forces within the FSB, had allegedly been under scrutiny for more than a year leading up to his arrest. He is currently detained in Colombia as legal discussions regarding his potential extradition to the United States are underway.
Authorities believe this case may have unveiled vital information about Centre 795, including its internal structure, operational bases, and network of supporters. What was intended to be one of Russia's most discreet intelligence units now faces serious exposure following this incident.
Comments (0)
You must be logged in to comment.
Be the first to comment on this article!