|

U.S. DOJ to Seize $584K in Crypto Linked to Iranian Drone Supplier

⚖

Key Takeaways:

  • DOJ filed a civil forfeiture motion to recuperate $584K in USDT tied to Mohammad Abedini, linked to Iran’s navy drone program.
  • The funds have been saved in an unhosted pockets allegedly managed by Abedini or his firm, SDRA.
  • Abedini’s agency equipped navigation techniques used in IRGC drones and missiles, together with one used in a deadly 2024 assault.

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil forfeiture motion to recuperate $584,741 in USDT allegedly managed by Mohammad Abedini, an Iranian nationwide charged with supporting Iran’s drone operations.

The motion was introduced in a press release revealed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.

DOJ Files Forfeiture of USDT

The seized funds have been held in an unhosted cryptocurrency pockets believed to be related to Abedini or his firm, San’at Danesh Rahpooyan Aflak Co. (SDRA), which manufactures navigation techniques used in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ drone and missile applications.

Abedini was indicted in December 2024 for offering materials assist to a chosen overseas terrorist group.

According to court docket filings, his firm offered the Sepehr Navigation System to the IRGC Aerospace Force. U.S. prosecutors allege that between 2021 and 2022, almost all of SDRA’s gross sales of the system have been to the IRGC.

Authorities linked the system to a drone recovered from a January 2024 assault in Jordan that killed three U.S. service members and injured greater than 40. The drone was recognized as an Iranian Shahed UAV, and investigators allege that it used navigation know-how developed by SDRA.

“U.S. regulation authorizes the forfeiture of property used to assist or fund acts of terrorism in opposition to the United States or its residents,” the DOJ said.

Italian authorities detained Abedini in December 2024, however he was later launched. He is presently believed to be in Iran.

International Enforcement in the Crypto Sector

The case is being dealt with by prosecutors from the District of Massachusetts and the National Security Division. The forfeiture grievance and legal costs are allegations. The defendant is presumed harmless till confirmed responsible in a court docket of regulation.

Investigators at the moment are inserting elevated concentrate on tracing funds linked to dual-use applied sciences in protection purposes, particularly when tied to actors underneath U.S. sanctions.

Enforcement agencies have additionally pushed for nearer coordination with worldwide counterparts to monitor digital asset transfers involving delicate exports. U.S. prosecutors have said they may proceed pursuing forfeiture and legal actions the place digital property are linked to safety threats, even when suspects are past bodily attain.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do U.S. prosecutors hint stablecoin transactions from unhosted wallets?

Although unhosted wallets lack a central middleman, blockchain evaluation companies and forensic instruments permit investigators to hyperlink wallets to identified actors or flagged transactions, significantly when exchanges are concerned at entry or exit factors.

Could digital asset seizures be used to deter abroad suppliers of navy know-how?

Yes. Freezing or seizing funds associated to defense-linked exports can restrict monetary operations and function a way of stress, particularly in the absence of extradition.

The publish U.S. DOJ to Seize $584K in Crypto Linked to Iranian Drone Supplier appeared first on Cryptonews.

Similar Posts