South Korean authorities arrest four individuals for sending cryptocurrency to a Syrian terror group in what investigators describe as a novel sanctions evasion case.
Regulation & Gov ·
South Korean police arrested four Uzbek nationals in April for alleged involvement in financing a UN-designated Syrian terrorist group through cryptocurrency transfers. The suspected ringleader sent 4,267 USDT to Katibat Tawhid wal Jihad across seven transfers between August 2024 and April 2025, then used cryptocurrency received from the group to purchase and export 11 used cars and two excavators valued at $121,000 to Syria. According to investigators, this marks the first case in which funds flowed both into and out of a designated terrorist organization through a sanctions evasion scheme involving physical goods. One of the four suspects was wanted on an Interpol Red Notice, and the ringleader has been indicted and is on trial while the others remain under investigation.