Polish Police Detain Former Cybercrime Chief Artur K. in Zondacrypto Exchange Fraud Investigation

Morning detention in Katowice

Polish law enforcement officers detained Artur K., a former head of the cybercrime department at the Katowice regional police headquarters, on the morning of 22 September 2026. The retired officer, who concluded his police service in 2018, was taken into custody in connection with the investigation into the Zondacrypto cryptocurrency exchange. Investigators searched the location of the arrest before transferring the detainee to the prosecutor's office in Katowice to face questioning. Minister of the Interior and Administration Marcin Kierwiński announced the police operation publicly on social media.

Further detentions in the Zondacrypto case. This is a former officer.

Suspected police ties and training role

Following his retirement from police service in 2018, Artur K. reportedly cooperated with Sylwester Suszek, the founder of the BitBay cryptocurrency exchange, which was the predecessor of Zondacrypto. Unofficial reporting indicates that Artur K. assisted the exchange owners in creating relationships within police structures, including the organization of cryptocurrency training sessions for police recruits at institutions such as the Police Academy in Szczytno. National Prosecutor's Office spokesperson Anna Adamiak declined to elaborate on the investigative activities conducted at the arrest site, citing the confidentiality of the ongoing proceedings.

I confirm that one person was detained in the Zondacrypto case.

Scope of the Zondacrypto investigation

The investigation into Zondacrypto began in April 2026 at the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Katowice, focusing on large-scale fraud and money laundering after receiving several thousand criminal complaints from exchange users. In August 2026, prosecutors merged the financial inquiry with the investigation into the disappearance of Sylwester Suszek, which is handled by the Silesian branch of the National Prosecutor's Office. Suszek vanished in March 2022 after he was last seen at a fuel station operated by Marian W. in Katowice.

Prior arrests and pending charges

The detention of Artur K. follows the custody of at least five other suspects in recent weeks. On 5 September 2026, officers arrested Roman Ż., a former partner of Suszek, due to flight risk concerns. Prosecutors charged Roman Ż. with participation in an organized crime group that defrauded exchange users of at least 7.8 million PLN through unauthorized modifications of computer records. Roman Ż. has also faced charges since 2019 for running an organized crime ring and laundering 28 million PLN through BitBay accounts.

On 14 September 2026, the Katowice Regional Court dismissed an appeal against preventive custody filed by Polish Olympic Committee head Radosław Piesiewicz, who faces charges of paid protection and settling debts with selected Zondacrypto creditors to the detriment of others. On 18 September 2026, the court also upheld the detention of Roman Ż. and Jaromira W. Jaromira W. is accused of participating in the criminal group and inflicting financial damage on exchange operator BB Trade Estonia by diverting company funds for French property, acquiring Katowice real estate valued at 800,000 PLN, and obtaining fraudulent confirmation of a 2.9 million euro loan repayment. Suspect Anna P. faces charges for extracting 700,000 PLN in Katowice real estate and removing a surveillance hard drive from the fuel station where Suszek disappeared, while stock investor Rafał Z. is charged with misappropriating 1.7 million PLN.