韩国警方逮捕4名乌兹别克斯坦籍人员，涉向叙利亚恐怖组织转账并采购车辆

The Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency in South Korea arrested 4 Uzbek nationals in April under the Prohibition of Financing Terrorism Act. Among them, the main suspect has been indicted, detained, and is currently on trial, while the other 3 have been released pending investigation; one individual is subject to an Interpol Red Notice.

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

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

Police stated that this case — involving receipt of cryptocurrency from a terrorist organization, purchase, and supply of vehicles — is the first of its kind in South Korea. The investigation also showed that the main suspect used 3 personal wallets and deposited vehicle payments into an account under their spouse's name; the case remains under investigation. (Decrypt)