6 Billion Lira Operation against Illegal Betting Gang in Kocaeli: 101 Detentions

A blow was dealt to an illegal betting and gambling crime organization through a large-scale operation planned centered in Kocaeli and covering 31 different provinces. The efforts carried out under the coordination of the Kocaeli Chief Public Prosecutor's Office by the Kocaeli Provincial Police Department Cyber Crime Branch teams exposed the financial network of the crime organization. As a result of technical and physical surveillance lasting approximately three months, simultaneous raids were conducted on June 30 to stop the network's activities. During the searches at the addresses, a large number of digital materials, unlicensed weapons and ammunition were seized, while the magnitude of the operation maintained its place on the agenda. In the process concluded with the determination of the security forces, a large part of the suspects were referred to the judicial authorities.

According to the investigation details, out of 120 identified suspects, 101 were arrested and sent to prison, while 19 suspects were released under judicial control conditions. It was determined that the suspects, for whom the court decided to arrest, were involved in money laundering activities charged with establishing and managing an organized crime organization. 15 shell companies established by the suspects to hide their illegal gains were revealed as a result of financial inspections. The proceedings of the detainees referred to the courthouse were completed after their statements at the police department and they were brought to the duty courts. The high number of arrests revealed the seriousness of the hierarchical structure of the organization and the rate of participation in the crimes.

In the examinations conducted by the financial police teams, the size of the financial traffic of the crime organization was at shocking levels. In the last three months, a money movement of approximately 6 billion 657 million 746 thousand lira was detected through betting accounts and shell companies belonging to the network. It was understood that a large part of this money was put into circulation through gold accounts and crypto currency buying-selling methods to lose its trail. These methods aimed at hiding the source of the income obtained showed that the crime organization had high financial literacy and used modern technology. As a result of the examinations, it was decided to intervene and seize the accounts assessed to be obtained from crime. This amount went down in records as one of the highest amounts seized in a single operation.

The simultaneous operations carried out in 31 provinces, especially in Kocaeli, also included search operations at the addresses of the suspects. In the searches made by the police teams, a large number of digital materials and information sources revealing the crime fraud and the communication network of the organization were reached. In addition, elements that could pose a potential threat to the security forces were also identified; 2 unlicensed pistols and 108 cartridges were seized in the searches. While it is evaluated that these weapons may have been kept to hinder or protect the organization's activities, it is expected that the other connections of the organization will be decrypted with the analysis of digital data. The investigation phase of the operation continues to be expanded in the light of the digital evidence seized.

Overall, this operation is characterized as one of the most effective interventions made in the recent period against the illegal betting and gambling sector in Turkey. The meticulous work of the Cyber Crime Branch focused not only on individual betting operators but also on a large structure that financed and organized them. The gang, which laundered through shell companies and used crypto assets, was held accountable before the law. The detention of 101 people is interpreted as the most concrete step towards the complete collapse of the organization's network, while it is reported that work on other aspects of the investigation will continue. The police and judiciary units emphasized that they continue their determination in the fight against similar crime organizations and that such activities will not be allowed due to the principle of the rule of law.