Three money mules arrested in Moscow after 24,000+ QIWI wallets were used to move ₽30 billion for gambling payments

Police in Moscow have detained three money-mule organizers who, in 2022–2023, registered more than 24,000 QIWI wallets in third parties’ names and used them to move ₽30 billion out of the country. The key point for high-risk PSPs: this was not a side hustle, it was payment infrastructure for the gambling sector.

1. According to the report, the suspects built a large network of third-party QIWI wallets and used it to route funds offshore. More than 24,000 wallets were registered in other people’s names over 2022–2023.
2. The total amount moved through this setup was ₽30 billion. The text says the money was used to service the gambling sector, which is the part that matters for acquiring, wallet providers, and compliance teams: the payment rail was the product.
3. The arrests took place in Moscow. The original report describes the defendants as dropovody — operators who organize money mules and nominal account holders, which is usually where KYC and source-of-funds controls go to die quietly.
4. No additional details were provided in the source about charges, court action, or whether other payment instruments were involved beyond QIWI wallets.