What are the Uzbek men in Korea accused of in the KTJ terrorism financing case?

Police said four Uzbek nationals were apprehended on charges of violating the counter-terrorism financing law. One man is accused of sending cryptocurrency and vehicles to Khatiba al-Tawhid wal-Jihad in Syria, while the other three allegedly helped him find used vehicles.

How did the main suspect allegedly support the Syria-based terrorist group?

He is accused of sending 6.3 million won worth of cryptocurrency to KTJ over about eight months starting in April 2025. Police also said he used cryptocurrency received from the group to buy 11 used cars and two excavators and ship them to Syria.

What happened to the main Uzbek suspect before the latest arrests?

Police said he was placed under arrest in April, one month after being placed on Interpol’s red notice. He has since been indicted with physical detention, and investigators said he had no official ties to the group but began supporting it after contact from his younger brother, a member of the organization.

4 Uzbek men nabbed in Korea over alleged support to terrorist group in Syria

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Summary

Four Uzbek men were apprehended in Korea on Tuesday over alleged support for a terrorist group in Syria. Police said one man is accused of sending cryptocurrency worth 6.3 million won to Khatiba al-Tawhid wal-Jihad and using related transfers to buy 11 used cars and two excavators for shipment to Syria. The three others are accused of helping him find used vehicles. The main suspect was also placed under arrest in April and later indicted with physical detention.

Key Facts

The main suspect is in his 30s and is accused of sending cryptocurrency over roughly eight months since April 2025.
Police said the cryptocurrency sent to the group totaled 6.3 million won, or about $4,600.
He allegedly used cryptocurrency received from the group to buy 11 used cars and two excavators worth a combined 170 million won.
The United Nations designated Khatiba al-Tawhid wal-Jihad as a terrorist organization in 2022.
The main suspect was placed under arrest in April, a month after being placed on Interpol’s red notice, and has since been indicted with physical detention.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 1, 2026 2:03 pm KST

Gwangju Nambu Police Station / Korea Times file photo

Four Uzbek men have been apprehended in Korea on charges of violating the counter-terrorism financing law over their alleged roles in sending money and vehicles to a terrorist group in Syria, police said Tuesday.

One of the four Uzbek nationals is accused of sending 6.3 million won ($4,600) worth of cryptocurrency to Khatiba al-Tawhid wal-Jihad (KTJ), a U.N.-listed terrorist organization, over roughly eight months since April 2025, according to the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency.

The man, who is in his 30s, is also suspected to have received cryptocurrency from the group over the same period, which he apparently used to purchase 11 used cars and two excavators here worth a combined total of 170 million won and ship them to Syria.

The United Nations designated KTJ, a militant group affiliated with al-Qaeda, as a terrorist organization in 2022.

Investigators believe the suspect has no official ties with the group but found that he began supporting it after being contacted by his younger brother, who is a member of the organization.

The suspect was placed under arrest in April, a month after he was placed on Interpol's red notice. He has since been indicted with physical detention.

The three other Uzbek nationals face charges of helping the main suspect, such as finding used vehicles. They have faced police questioning without detention.

The main suspect was found to have run a used car export company under the name of one of his compatriots.

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