Law enforcement conducts major crime crackdowns in Turkey and Cyprus

Law enforcement agencies in Turkey and Cyprus have conducted several major operations targeting various criminal activities.

In Turkey, a massive crackdown on illegal betting centered in Gaziantep spanned 24 provinces. Utilizing the ‘Şahin’ AI-powered data analysis program, authorities identified a transaction volume of over 21.8 billion TL across 1.3 million transactions. The operation resulted in 153 detainees and the seizure of 41.3 million TL in assets. Additionally, in Ankara, the Gendarmerie’s virtual patrols led to access bans on 350 illegal betting sites, 4 phishing sites, and 66 sites containing obscene content.

Other regional operations in Turkey included a crackdown on usury in İzmir resulting in 7 arrests, a tobacco and counterfeit cigarette operation in Aksaray that led to 5 detentions and the seizure of 2.1 million TL worth of goods, and a drug-related arrest in Şişli involving suspects with extensive criminal records. In the legal sphere, a new indictment in the Dorukhan Büyükışık case in İzmir suggests the victim may have been killed with an iron bar, with 26 defendants facing potential prison sentences.

In Cyprus, police in İskele conducted operations that uncovered both drug offenses and human trafficking. Five individuals were arrested after investigations revealed the illegal transport of five people from southern to northern Cyprus for 650 euros, alongside the seizure of methamphetamine and other controlled substances.