In March 2024, the world was shocked by the revelation of the plight of Tigran Gambaryan, a former US Tax Service Agent and cryptocurrency investigation specialist. A 39-second video emerged showing Gambaryan looking visibly frightened, speaking into the camera as if recording a secret message, pleading for help as he feared for his life.
Gambaryan, who had more than a decade of experience working in American law enforcement agencies, had been involved in high-profile cases targeting criminals operating in the darknet, including the takedown of sites like Alphabay and Silk Road. After leaving government service, he had joined Binance in 2021 with the plan of training law enforcement agencies worldwide on methods for tracking cryptocurrency transactions. Unfortunately, his mission in Nigeria took a distressing turn, culminating in an eight-month imprisonment in one of the country’s toughest prisons.
In February 2024, Gambaryan traveled to Nigeria for meetings with officials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). At the time, Nigeria was facing an economic crisis with inflation soaring past 30%, the Naira plummeting after being decoupled from the dollar, and citizens turning to cryptocurrency in search of financial stability. Binance had emerged as a popular platform for trading digital assets, drawing the ire of regulatory authorities concerned about the impact on the national currency.
Instead of negotiations, Gambaryan and his colleague Nadim Anjarvalla were slapped with charges of money laundering and tax evasion during the planned meeting. They were informed that they could not leave Nigeria until Binance provided full user data for the country. Anjarvalla managed to flee, leaving Gambaryan behind to face the pressure as a pawn in the conflict with the cryptocurrency exchange.
A month later, Gambaryan was moved to Kuje prison, housing terrorists and known for its harsh conditions. Prison life was rough, with no air conditioning, unhygienic surroundings, and stringent rules. Inmates could purchase mobile phones through bribes, and Gambaryan was offered a device for a hefty sum, under the misconception that he was a wealthy individual. Despite buying the phone for a fraction of the price, it became his lifeline to communicate with his family.
His health deteriorated as he contracted malaria while behind bars, leading to complications that left him wheelchair-bound. However, Nigerian authorities prohibited the use of the wheelchair in court proceedings, fearing negative publicity. Witnessing Gambaryan struggle to move on crutches sparked public outrage and drew the attention of American officials.
The turning point came when Nigerian prosecutors produced minimal evidence of Gambaryan’s alleged crimes