James Allsopp operates under the nickname “Balina James.” This alias points to the large-scale nature of the alleged schemes, suggesting moves that could ripple through digital markets like a whale stirring the sea. Allsopp is suspected of cryptocurrency fraud, a label that has drawn the attention of both national and international law-enforcement agencies.
On 2026-10-14, Turkish security forces moved against Allsopp and his wife A.K. in the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul. The operation was carried out by the country’s intelligence agency, MİT, together with other security units. According to the reports, the arrest was the culmination of a sting that relied on social-media tactics and financial tracing methods. This marked a direct move from surveillance to apprehension.
The search of the premises yielded a varied haul. Officials said they seized significant amounts of cash, digital assets, luxury items and weapons. Among the tangible figures disclosed were 600 bin dolar – roughly six hundred thousand United States dollars – recovered during the raid, alongside 2 bin 600 euro, which translates to two thousand six hundred euros, and 50 bin lira, or fifty thousand Turkish lira. In addition to the cash, the seizure included weapons, electronics, gold and other currency, painting a picture of a cache that blended conventional valuables with digital holdings.
Prior to the Turkish operation, Allsopp had already been flagged by Interpol as an international fugitive.
Prior to the Turkish operation, Allsopp had already been flagged by Interpol as an international fugitive. He is described as an international fugitive wanted in connection with cryptocurrency fraud. The cooperation between Interpol’s alert and the national sting illustrates how trans-border alerts can be acted upon locally when a suspect enters a country’s jurisdiction.
Multiple major Turkish outlets (Habertürk/DHA, A Haber, Sözcü, Takvim, İHA and others) independently reported today that Richard James Schueler (also known as Richard Heart / “Balina James”), founder of the Hex, PulseChain and PulseX crypto projects, was detained in a dawn operation in Beşiktaş, Istanbul. Turkish authorities, including Istanbul police and reported involvement by MİT, acted on an INTERPOL red notice. Key confirmed details • Identity: The Finnish identity card image in the original post matches Schueler (born 9 October 1979). He has lived in Finland and was previously the subject of a U.S. SEC civil case (largely dismissed in 2025 on jurisdictional grounds). • INTERPOL status: Finland requested a red notice in late 2024 for alleged gross tax evasion (hundreds of millions of euros) and an assault charge involving a minor. He was also listed on Europol’s most-wanted list. This is separate from the earlier U.S. SEC matter. • Operation: Reports consistently describe a coordinated dawn raid in Beşiktaş involving police (including special operations) with MİT support. His wife was also detained according to several sources. Digital equipment, firearms, ammunition, jewellery and cash were seized.
Allsopp was not apprehended alone. His wife, identified only by the initials A.K., was taken into custody alongside him during the same raid. She was seized with the same array of items that authorities recovered from the property.
Following the arrest, both James Allsopp and A.K. were taken into custody. The seized cash, digital assets, luxury goods and weapons were recovered during the raid. The operation was part of a sting involving social media and financial methods. No further details on their legal status are provided.