Turkish authorities arrest 28 in organized crime crackdown

Authorities in Turkey have conducted major operations against organized crime groups in İzmir, Istanbul, and Ankara.

In the İzmir-based investigation led by the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, a criminal organization headed by H. E. was targeted. The group allegedly used weapons and intimidation to seize control of business partners and force victims to pay extortion money. Law enforcement officials reported that the proceeds from these crimes were transferred to bank accounts belonging to the relatives of the organization's leaders. Following operations in three cities, 28 suspects were arrested, bringing the total number of detainees in this case to 39.

In a separate but related development, Istanbul Police's Organized Crime Branch intercepted a suspect, S. G., who was attempting to flee the country. S. G., who was linked to a criminal organization led by the fugitive S. Ö., was discovered hiding in a secret compartment of a truck at the Hamzabeyli Customs Gate in Edirne. The suspect, who was identified as having been involved in three separate crimes in 2024, was taken into custody as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle the network.