Russian Fugitive Expelled from Thailand
Freed from Thailand, Alexander Verba Faces Russian Justice for International Extortion
Get ready, buddy. It looks like Alexander Verba, a formerly elusive figure hailing from the Primorsky Krai region, has been dragged into the cold, harsh arms of Russian law enforcement. Kudos to the Thai authorities for their role in bringing Verba back to the table. The scoop comes from none other than Irina Volk, the official representative of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
So, what's the big deal? Well, evidently, Verba was on a global most-wanted list for a pretty hefty offense - extortion. But here's the kicker: we’re not just talking about a run-of-the-mill case of begging for breadcrumbs here, no, sir. Verba was reportedly part of an organized group, and together, they had their sights set on obtaining property on a massive scale.
According to the probing peeps at the Ministry, this illustrious gang had been up to no good in Arsenyev, a city nestled in the Primorsky Krai region, from 2008 to 2013. Newsflash: their mischief included attacking a local logging bigwig, beating the living daylights out of him, and threatening him with a deadly weapon. After their brutal display, they strong-armed the poor fella into handing over a fancy car and agricultural equipment worth a few million rubles.
But that wasn't enough for Verba's ruthless group. Oh, no. They also demanded more than 5 million rubles from another entrepreneur, promising protection. Can you guess how that story ends? Yup, they ended up nabbing the entrepreneur's property and land lease rights under unfortunate pressure.
A criminal case was launched under Article 163 of the Russian Criminal Code ("Extortion") for their devilish deeds, and identities were eventually unveiled. Unfortunately, one of the masterminds made a run for it and outsmarted the authorities, taking cover abroad. But fear not, adventurous detective! He was ultimately found, you guessed it, in Thailand. Thanks to the magic of Interpol, he's now back on Russian soil to face the music.
Credits: Bangkok, Zoya Oskolkova
(RIA "Novy Day," 2025)
[1] Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs press release, 2025, link[2] Thai authorities communication, 2025, link
Fun fact: Organized crime groups in Russia's Far East were known for engaging in various shady activities such as protection rackets, loan sharking, and property seizures during the late 2000s and early 2010s. However, it remains to be seen whether this particular case is connected to these patterns. Keep an eye on this story for updates!
- The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has revealed that Alexander Verba, recently apprehended in Thailand, was part of an organized group involved in extortion and large-scale property acquisition from 2008 to 2013 in Arsenyev, Primorsky Krai.
- In one of their criminal acts, the group attacked a local logging bigwig, beat him severely, and threatened him with a deadly weapon to force him to hand over a car and agricultural equipment worth several million rubles.
- Besides this, the group demanded more than 5 million rubles from another entrepreneur, offering protection, and seized his property and land lease rights under undue pressure.
- Thai authorities played a crucial role in bringing Verba back to face the consequences of his actions in Russia, as he was wanted for extortion under Article 163 of the Russian Criminal Code.
