Turkey dismantles fake‑ID network involving civil‑service officials

Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced the discovery and dismantling of an organized crime group that used officials in population‑registry offices to produce forged identity documents, driver’s licences, residence permits and falsified property deeds. Simultaneous raids were conducted in Istanbul and seven other provinces, resulting in the detention of 31 suspects, some of whom were public employees. The investigation, coordinated by the Bakırköy Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Istanbul Gendarmerie, linked the suspects to crimes of “organising for crime”, “official document forgery” and “public official involvement in forgery”. Gürlek warned that stricter, more deterrent measures will be applied to protect the integrity of state documents and the legal system.