Two fugitives surrender in Turkey after Georgia arrest over Büyükcekmece court gold robbery

Istanbul’s Büyükcekmece District Court theft of roughly 25 kg of gold and 50 kg of silver, valued at about 147 million TL, was linked to a gang associated with the Ağrı tribe. Sixteen suspects were detained after the loot was transported in a 12‑vehicle convoy to Doğubayazıt, Ağrı. Two key figures, Muhammed Efe and Muhammed Seferoğulları, were captured by Georgian security forces, imprisoned, and later turned themselves in at the Sarp border crossing, handing themselves over to Turkish authorities.

The robbery’s main orchestrator, court employee Erdal Timurtaş, fled abroad with his wife to England; a red notice has been issued for his arrest. The investigation continues, with additional suspects arrested and several individuals placed under judicial control.