Turkish police rescue 44 women and detain 24 in coordinated prostitution raids

On 30 June 2026, Turkish law‑enforcement agencies carried out simultaneous operations against organized prostitution networks in several provinces. In the Tunceli‑led raid covering Elazığ, Adıyaman, Bingöl and Malatya, six suspects were arrested and nine women were rescued; investigators also found evidence of child sexual abuse at the implicated venues. A separate operation coordinated by the Antalya prosecutor’s office targeted addresses in Antalya and Adana, resulting in the arrest of 18 suspects (including 16 men and one woman) and the rescue of 35 women.

Authorities seized cash, electronic devices and foreign‑currency assets in both raids and placed the detained individuals in custody pending trial. The actions were aimed at preventing forced prostitution, curbing sexually transmitted diseases and dismantling criminal organisations.