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Organized crime operations in Turkey

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2026-08-22 11:47 UTC → 2026-08-23 06:07 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Turkish authorities have conducted significant operations targeting various organized crime networks in Istanbul and Izmir, while also making breakthroughs in long-standing investigations. In Istanbul, investigations into a massive syndicate revealed a network of 306 suspects and 248 companies that allegedly used fraudulent websites to steal credit card information and engage in money laundering. Additionally, police have targeted theft rings that prey on foreign tourists. Justice Minister Akın Gürlek reported that one such group, consisting of 32 suspects, utilized “squeezing and screening” methods to conduct approximately 10 thefts per day, generating roughly 400,000 TL in criminal proceeds. In Izmir, operations have targeted violent structures operating within the “Forza” and “Yalı” supporter groups of Göztepe Spor Kulübü. These investigations, which intensified following the killing of Emircan Övüç in September 2025, cover a series of violent incidents between 2025 and 2026, including premeditated killings and shootings intended to establish dominance. Of the 59 identified members, 27 are currently in prison. Recent simultaneous raids across four provinces resulted in the detention of 28 suspects. Furthermore, the Ministry’s Unsolved Crimes Research Department has resolved 36 cold case files involving 41 victims and 7 injured persons. Notable breakthroughs include the arrest of M. Ö., linked to three murders and six attempted murders in Ankara dating back to 2015, and the arrest of Y. K. for a 2019 double murder in Osmaniye involving Mustafa and Hüsna Ala. Recent enforcement actions have expanded to include a crackdown on illegal betting networks across 45 provinces, which resulted in 190 detentions and the detection of a transaction volume exceeding 84 billion TL. Additionally, a major fraud ring using fake gaming and shopping sites was dismantled in Manisa, leading to the arrest of 34 suspects after authorities detected 300 million TL in illicit transfers.

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