Four uzbeks charged with financing terrorism in South Korea

The scheme begins with an unusual detail: cryptocurrency was converted into cash, used to buy secondhand cars and excavators, which were then shipped to Syria.

According to Yonhap news agency, it was reported that on September 1, four Uzbek nationals were arrested in South Korea on suspicion of sending money and vehicles to a terrorist group in Syria. They have been charged with violating the country's law against financing terrorism.

The main suspect is a man in his 30s. According to investigators, starting in April 2025, over a period of roughly eight months, he sent cryptocurrency worth 6.3 million won to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an organization listed by the United Nations. The UN designated the al-Qaeda-linked group as a terrorist organization in 2022.

In addition, funds received in crypto from the same organization were used to purchase 11 secondhand vehicles and two excavators worth a total of 170 million won, which were then shipped to Syria.

Investigators say the suspect had no official ties to the group. He reportedly began providing support after making contact with his younger brother, who was a member of the organization.

He was arrested in April, a month after Interpol issued a red notice for him. He was subsequently placed in pretrial detention and formally charged.

The remaining three Uzbek nationals are suspected of helping the main suspect locate secondhand vehicles. They have not been detained but were questioned by police.

The main suspect ran a used-car export company registered under the name of one of his compatriots. This is where the picture comes into focus: exporting secondhand cars from South Korea is an ordinary, legal business — but in this case, it also became a link in a cross-border money transfer chain: crypto — goods — cargo — Syria.

The investigation is ongoing, and no final court ruling has been issued.