Turkey's Interior Ministry cracks down on cyber‑crime network, 306 detained

The Turkish Interior Ministry announced a coordinated operation against a nationwide cyber‑crime network that targeted 14 provinces, including Bursa, Istanbul, Adana and Kayseri. The operation, carried out by the General Directorate of the Police’s Cyber Crime Department, the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) and public prosecutors, resulted in the detention of 306 suspects, with 18 placed in pre‑trial detention and 16 ordered under judicial control.

Investigators identified a range of illegal activities: online child pornography and sexual exploitation, POS‑device fraud, unauthorized access to citizens’ mobile‑banking and gaming accounts, the operation of illegal betting and gambling sites, money‑laundering through those platforms, and large‑scale phishing scams that used promises of investment returns, internet‑modem fees or product‑refund schemes to defraud users. The Ministry said the inquiry will continue and further actions will be taken against the network.

The crackdown reflects a broad effort by Turkish authorities to combat digital crimes that combine sexual exploitation with financial fraud, affecting thousands of citizens across the country.