South Korean police arrest 4 Uzbek nationals for transferring funds to a Syrian terrorist organization and purchasing vehicles

Odaily News – The Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency in South Korea arrested 4 Uzbek nationals in April under the Prohibition of Funding for Terrorist Acts Act. Among them, the principal suspect has been indicted, detained, and is standing trial, while the other 3 are under investigation without detention; one individual has been placed on an Interpol Red Notice.

Police allege that between August 2024 and April 2025, the principal suspect transferred 4,267 USDT in 7 separate transactions to Katibat Tawhid wal Jihad (KTJ), a Syria-based organization. Founded in 2014, KTJ is primarily composed of Central Asian militants and has been designated as a terrorist organization by both the United Nations and the United States.

The investigation shows that the principal suspect also received cryptocurrency from KTJ and used it to purchase 11 used cars and 2 excavators, with a total value of 170 million KRW (approximately $121,000), and shipped the vehicles to Syria. The other 3 individuals are suspected of assisting with the procurement and export.

Police stated that this case, which involves receiving cryptocurrency from a terrorist organization, purchasing and supplying vehicles, is the first of its kind in South Korea. The investigation also revealed that the principal suspect used 3 personal wallets and deposited vehicle payments into an account under his spouse's name. The case remains under investigation. (Decrypt)