Missing ‘Crypto Queen’ Suspected To Be Murdered By Drug Lord

Ruja Ignatova disappeared seven years in the past after a warrant from US authorities was issued to arrest her. The self-proclaimed “Crypto Queen” was chargeable for OneCoin’s Ponzi scheme that took $4.5 billion from traders.

Now, a BBC investigation suspects that the lacking crypto scammer might have been murdered by a Bulgarian drug lord years in the past.

Seven Years Since Crypto Queen’s Disappearance

In 2014, the crypto rip-off firm OneCoin was based by Bulgarian “entrepreneur” Ruja Ignatova. The corporate claimed to be the “Bitcoin Killer” with its cryptocurrency and Blockchain mannequin. Nevertheless, OneCoin was nothing greater than a conventional Ponzi scheme, which stole $4.5 billion from its traders worldwide.

After its collapse in 2017, authorities continued investigating the fraudulent trade and charged its executives, together with Ignatova. In October of that yr, American authorities issued an arrest warrant to seize the self-proclaimed Crypto Queen, who vanished to keep away from the legislation.

Since her disappearance, Ignatova has been believed to be hiding, particularly after being added as the one lady within the FBI’s high 10 most wished record. Nevertheless, a current BBC report unveiled some disturbing data relating to the whereabouts of the Bulgarian felony.

Amanatidis’ Interpol Purple Discover. Supply: BBC

In response to the BBC investigation, Ignatova is suspected by many to have been killed by his safety guard, Bulgarian drug lord Hristoforos Nikos Amanatidis. The Crypto Queen’s head of safety allegedly is a serious organized crime determine of their house nation.

Amanatidis, also called Taki, is “a really vital, if not probably the most prolific, drug trafficker of all time in Bulgaria.” Taki seemingly had shut hyperlinks to OneCoin as a result of his relationship with Ignatova and was concerned within the crypto scammer’s disappearance, a US authorities lawyer instructed the BBC.

How Is The Bulgarian El Chapo Linked To Ignatova?

The drug lord is believed to be a Bulgarian El Chapo or Pablo Escobar determine of types, based on the report, chargeable for armed theft, drug smuggling, and homicide. Former Bulgarian deputy minister, Ivan Hristanov, believes Taki was the one individual capable of help Ignatova in her felony endeavors and shield her from the legislation. Hristanov, who has investigated the drug lord earlier than, acknowledged:

Taki is the ghost. You’ll by no means see him. You solely hear about him. He’s speaking to you thru different folks. For those who don’t pay attention, you simply disappear from earth.

The hyperlinks between Taki and the Crypto Queen pile up. The drug lord is believed to dwell in Dubai, the place Ignatova owns a luxurious penthouse. Her financial institution accounts acquired hundreds of thousands of {dollars} from the Ponzi scheme. Furthermore, the crypto felony paid Taki €100,000 month-to-month for her safety.

Moreover, the 2 Bulgarian criminals have been a part of a fancy deal to promote some land on the nation’s Black Coastline. The paperwork seemingly hyperlink one in every of Ignatova’s firms with Taki’s spouse.

Hiding Or Useless, The place Is Ruja Ignatova?

A number of sources imagine that Ignatova could have been murdered by her protector. In 2022, Bulgarian journalist Dimitar Stoyanov led an investigation at native information outlet Chook that compiled the suspicion of many concerned in Ignatova’s case.

In response to the report, Stoyanov and Chook’s crew was handed a police report the place a police informant detailed a dialog he overheard. Within the dialog, Taki’s brother-in-law admits that Ignatova had been murdered on the drug lord’s order on the finish of 2018.

Allegedly, her physique was dismembered and thrown off a yacht within the sea. In response to Stoyanov, it’s “very, very doable” as a number of felony associates of Taki imagine this idea to be true.

The associates’ rationale being that the wished Ms Ignatova turned a legal responsibility to Taki, who wished to get rid of his hyperlinks to the OneCoin fraud.

Furthermore, the journalist claims that since her disappearance, Taki’s associates have begun utilizing a number of of Ignatova’s Bulgarian properties.

In the end, there isn’t sufficient proof to prosecute the drug lord, and there’s not a physique to show the homicide, so the Crypto Queen’s whereabouts stay a thriller regardless of the rumors.