Turkish security forces conducted extensive operations targeting sixteen different organized crime groups across sixteen provinces. According to the state broadcaster TRT Haber, a total of 198 individuals were detained during these coordinated efforts. The operations spanned cities including Erzurum, Sakarya, Aydın, Kayseri, Adana, Mugla, Eskisehir, Bitlis, Kahramanmaras, Manisa, Balıkesir, Tunceli, Tekirdag, Sinop, Giresun, and Ağrı.
The actions were executed through collaboration between anti-smuggling and organized crime units from the Gendarmerie General Command, the Cybercrime Department, chief public prosecutors, and the Financial Crimes Investigation Board, as reported by the Ministry of Interior. Of the 198 suspects, 105 were placed in pre-trial detention by court order, while 75 were released under judicial supervision pending trial. Investigations revealed that several groups were involved in diverse illegal activities.
In Erzurum, Sakarya, Aydın, Kayseri, and Giresun, some groups allegedly defrauded citizens through social media “investment consulting.” In Adana and Muğla, others reportedly obtained illicit financial gains from businesses via coercion. Further findings indicated that groups in Kahramanmaraş and Ağrı were involved in illegal drug trafficking from eastern provinces to Tekirdağ in the west. In the Black Sea region, particularly Sinop, criminal elements operated illegal betting websites and facilitated money transfers.
Other crimes included forging official documents in Tunceli, arms smuggling in Manisa, and illegal money lending with high interest rates in Balıkesir, Eskişehir, and Bitlis. As a result of the operations, over 1,000 bank accounts were frozen, and 24 properties and 16 vehicles were confiscated. Authorities also seized digital materials, documents, cash, and narcotic substances during searches at the suspects’ residences.
Topics: #operations #detained #organized
