International crime ring linked to diamond smuggling and gold fraud in Turkey

An international organized crime network has been uncovered following a major investigation into gold and diamond smuggling. The ring allegedly defrauded 16 merchants at Istanbul's Kuyumcukent of 420 million liras worth of gold by melting it down in secret crucibles.

Investigations revealed that Habib Kocabaşoğlu, a prominent jewelry designer, was a key figure in the operation. The network is linked to a 1.7 billion lira diamond smuggling chain spanning from India and Hong Kong to Dubai and Turkey. The operation was reportedly led by an Iranian national known as 'The Big Boss,' Hadi Gulroozi. The scheme involved purchasing raw diamonds at low costs, transporting them to Dubai to be issued fake international certificates via shell companies, and then marketing them to Turkish jewelers through secret WhatsApp groups.

To evade airport X-ray security, diamonds were smuggled inside shampoo bottles, snack bags, and wireless earphone cases, or attached to couriers' bodies. The group used a unique verification method involving the serial number of a 5 TL banknote, which was sent via WhatsApp to confirm identities during high-value deliveries. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office conducted operations related to the case, including an intervention at Sabiha Gökçen Airport.