Over 70 suspected terrorists deported

The government has in the last five years deported over 70 foreigners believed to be working for international terrorist groups, according to the National Intelligence Agency.

The agency disclosed the data to Democratic Party lawmaker Won Hye-young as part of the National Assembly’s annual government agency inspection process.

According to the data, a total of 74 foreigners who were believed to be linked to terrorist groups have been deported in the past five years. Among the suspects, eight were linked to Jemaah Islamiah, a Southeast Asian militant Islamic group. They were caught in October 2004 and were said to have been plotting to bomb a foreign embassy in Seoul.

In November 2006, an industrial trainee from a Southeast Asian country began an Internet campaign to start jihad, or holy war. He was among those deported.

“South Korea is no longer a place free from international terrorism,” said Won. “We need measures to prevent them from further spreading in the country.”

In January 2007, 10 nationals of a Southwest Asian country tried to exchange and transfer 40 billion won ($35.2 million) in foreign currencies for Hawala, a worldwide network of money brokers mostly based in Islamic countries.

Currency transfers to overseas destinations other than those made through banks are illegal in South Korea. Some of the Hawala groups are suspected of helping finance terrorist groups.

In a related case, two individuals from a Middle Eastern country were caught in July this year trying to provide a massive amount of narcotics to the Taliban through South Korea. Four other individuals from the Middle East were also arrested in May on charges of trafficking narcotic materials smuggled from Africa.

By Kim Jung-ha JoongAng Ilbo [hawon@joongang.co.kr]