US Department of Justice Seeks to Seize $584,000 in Crypto Linked to Iranian Drone Supplier
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a civil lawsuit to seize $584,741 in USDT, a stablecoin, which is allegedly linked to Mohammad Abedini, an Iranian citizen accused of supporting Iran’s drone operations. According to a press release from the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, the funds were stored in an unhosted cryptocurrency wallet believed to be controlled by Abedini or his company, San’at Danesh Rahpooyan Aflak Co. (SDRA).
Background on the Case
Abedini’s company, SDRA, provided navigation systems used in drones and rockets operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The US prosecutors claim that between 2021 and 2022, almost the entire turnover of the navigation system was to the IRGC. The system has been linked to a drone recovered from a fatal attack in January 2024 in Jordan, which killed three US service members and injured over 40. The drone was identified as an Iranian UAV, and investigators claim it used navigation technology developed by SDRA.
International Enforcement in the Crypto Sector
The case is being handled by prosecutors from the District of Massachusetts and the National Security Division. The complaint and criminal charges are allegations, and the defendant is considered innocent until proven guilty in court. The investigators are now focusing on pursuing funds connected to dual-use technologies in defense applications, especially if they are linked to actors under US sanctions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do US prosecutors pursue StableCoin transactions of unhosted wallets? Although unhosted token wallets are anonymous, blockchain analysis companies and forensic tools enable investigators to link them to well-known actors or marked transactions, especially if exchanges are involved in entry or exit points.
Could digital seizures be used to prevent suppliers of military technology overseas? Yes, freezing funds connected to defense-related exports can restrict financial transactions and serve as a pressure method, especially without delivery.
For more information on this case, please visit https://cryptonews.com/news/us-doj-to-seize-584k-in-crypto-linked-to-iranian-drone-supplier/
