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Turkey's Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi Announces Expanded Crackdown on Organized Crime and Illegal Betting
Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi told New Şafak that police have carried out 1,365 operations against 513 organized‑crime groups since the start of 2026, resulting in 6,165 arrests, an increase over the same period in 2025 when 1,055 operations led to 4,936 arrests. He said the measures target new‑generation crime networks and street gangs, and that legislation will make gangs unable to act by the end of 2026, including a legal framework for offenders aged 15‑18.
Çiftçi reported a sharp decline in motorcycle‑related armed incidents, from 165 last year to 46 this year, with deaths falling from 17 to 9 and injuries from 81 to 15. He stressed that many of these groups recruit and coordinate via social media, and noted that foreign intelligence services exploit them.
The minister also warned that illegal betting poses a national‑security threat, estimating its annual cost to Turkey at $40 billion, and said the government is intensifying actions to dismantle betting networks. He called for a review of the temporary‑protection status for Syrian refugees, suggesting visa facilitation to accelerate their return.
Entities
Illegal betting networks (Turkey) · Mustafa Çiftçi · Organized crime groups (Turkey) · Syrian refugees · Turkish Interior Ministry
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The temporary‑protection status for Syrian refugees is being reconsidered, with a proposal to facilitate visas to encourage returns. www.haber16.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Deaths in those motorcycle incidents dropped from 17 to 9 and injuries from 81 to 15. haber.mynet.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Foreign intelligence agencies exploit organized‑crime groups via social media. www.haber16.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] 6,165 people were arrested in those operations. haber.mynet.com · www.haber16.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Motorcycle‑related armed incidents fell from 165 to 46 compared with the same period last year. haber.mynet.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Illegal betting is estimated to cost Turkey $40 billion annually. www.haberturk.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A law will render street gangs unable to act by the end of 2026, with specific provisions for offenders aged 15‑18. haber.mynet.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] 1,365 police operations were carried out against 513 organized‑crime groups in 2026. haber.mynet.com · www.haber16.com