South Korea arrests four Uzbeks in first terror-financing case

September 4, 2026 at 11:57 AM2 min

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South Korean police in Gwangju arrested four Uzbek nationals on charges of violating the Act on Prohibition of Financing for Terrorism. The main suspect, a 30-year-old man, is accused of sending 4,267 USDT to a terrorist group and using funds from the group to buy vehicles and excavators for export to Syria. This is the first case in South Korea where investigators documented a two-way financial and material cycle with an international terrorist organization.

Key Facts

Gwangju police arrested four Uzbek nationals for violating South Korea's Act on Prohibition of Financing for Terrorism.
The main suspect, a 30-year-old man, transferred 4,267 USDT (about 6.3 million won or $4,600) to terrorist crypto wallets between August 2024 and April 2025.
The suspects purchased 11 used cars and 2 heavy excavators worth about 170 million won ($121,000–$125,000) using funds from the terrorist group and shipped them to Syria.
The main suspect was arrested in April and is in custody; three accomplices are under investigation without detention.
The main suspect was on Interpol's red notice list and claimed his younger brother joined the group in Syria for 'self-defense.'

Arrests and Charges

Gwangju police announced the arrest of four Uzbek nationals on charges of violating the Act on Prohibition of Financing for Terrorism. The main suspect, a 30-year-old man who entered South Korea on a student visa in 2017 and overstayed, was arrested in April and remains in custody. Three accomplices, also Uzbek citizens, are under investigation without detention on suspicion of assisting in the scheme. Police stated this is the first case in South Korea's judicial practice involving a full two-way financial and material cycle with an international terrorist organization.

Financing and Procurement Scheme

Between August 2024 and April 2025, the main suspect transferred 4,267 USDT (about 6.3 million won or $4,600) to terrorist crypto wallets in seven transactions. The suspect received cryptocurrency from the terrorist group to purchase vehicles and equipment, buying 11 used cars and 2 heavy excavators worth about 170 million won ($121,000–$125,000). The equipment was shipped to Syria disguised as ordinary export cargo for use by militants. The suspect used three personal crypto wallets to obscure transactions, paid for vehicles through accounts in his wife's name, and ran a used-car export company registered under a compatriot's name.

Investigation and Defense

The main suspect was on Interpol's red notice list and initially had no direct organizational ties to radicals, but began helping militants after his younger brother, who went to Syria and joined the group Katibat Tawhid wal-Jihad, contacted him. At the first court hearing in June, the suspect denied the charges and claimed his brother joined the group in Syria solely for 'self-defense' amid violence by the official government. During arrest, the suspect attempted to mislead police by presenting someone else's driver's license. South Korean law enforcement continues the investigation to identify possible accomplices and distribution channels.