The USA accuses a suspected member of a Russian smuggling network of using AirTags to stalk his ex-wife, reports 404 Media based on recently disclosed charges. A Tajikistan citizen, Ibodullo Numonovich Mukhiddinov, is suspected of illegally trafficking his now ex-wife (referred to as S.K.) to the USA through a network he worked for, involving abuse and stalking.
“Shortly after the marriage, the Respondent began to physically and emotionally abuse S. K. and forced her to record videos of a sexually explicit nature. The Respondent threatened to publicly release the images and videos if S. K. did not comply with the Respondent's demands. At the time of the marriage, S. K. had recently arrived from Tajikistan via Mexico and had no other family or support in the United States”.
In March and April, Mukhiddinov placed seven AirTags on S. K.'s car. She found the first tag, and investigators found the remaining six. The investigation alleges that Mukhiddinov placed AirTags on S. K.'s car to track her, hiding them throughout the vehicle, including under the front bumper, in the wheels, inside the frame, and in the side mirrors.
When investigators learned that Mukhiddinov was tagging the car, the FBI used it to observe how he checked the tags or placed others. On one occasion, after the FBI disabled the AirTag installed by him, Mukhiddinov called S. K. and followed her to a car wash, then knocked on her windows and demanded to know why SK was not answering his calls. "S. K. was paralyzed with fear by the Respondent's actions," the protocol says. The FBI deactivated the AirTag and watched as Mukhiddinov arrived, got out of his car with a phone and started looking for the AirTag. Investigators obtained Apple records linking Mukhiddinov's account to the AirTag.
AirTags have not been the first tool for stalkers and domestic abusers since their launch in 2021. Police records show that it has become a problem for women. There have been several cases where AirTag stalking escalated to violence, at least in two cases resulting in the target being killed by the stalker.
After charges were filed against Mukhiddinov and a search warrant was issued, investigators found a folder on his phone with approximately 140 photos and videos of S.K. of a sexual nature. The detention request states that the accused has access to significant financial resources and is believed to be associated with a large-scale human smuggling network of a transnational organized crime syndicate. The judge granted the detention request, and the jury trial is set to begin on June 8th.
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