Gendarmerie Operation to Dismantle 22 Criminal Syndicates in 16 Provinces: 228 Detainees

According to a comprehensive statement made by the Türkiye Cumhuriyeti İçişleri Bakanlığı, gendarmerie units carried out a massive simultaneous operation in 16 different provinces. In these simultaneous operations, a total of 22 separate organized crime syndicates were targeted and operations were launched to dismantle them. Within the scope of the operations, 228 suspects, who were found to be involved in various crimes, were successfully apprehended and detained. The massive volume of financial transactions detected in their accounts, believed to have resulted from the illegal activities of the crime syndicates, drew significant attention. During inspections carried out by authorities, it was emphasized that the total transaction volume in the syndicates' bank accounts stood at 10 milyar 166 milyon Türk Lirası.

The flawless coordination of multiple security units played a major role in the successful execution of the operations. The Kaçakçılık ve Organize Suçlarla Mücadele (KOM) Daire Başkanlığı, operating under the Jandarma Genel Komutanlığı, undertook the strategic planning of the operation. Specialist teams combating cybercrimes were also deployed to solve crimes committed particularly through digital platforms. The work of all these security units was meticulously coordinated by the Cumhuriyet Başsavcılıkları in the relevant provinces, ensuring the legal process was executed at the highest level. This strong inter-agency cooperation enabled the swift identification and neutralization of the suspects.

As a result of the in-depth investigations conducted by security forces, it was revealed that the crime syndicates engaged in a wide variety of complex illegal activities. It was determined that in the provinces of Tekirdağ, Kırklareli, Iğdır, and Aydın, syndicate members particularly utilized digital environments, victimizing thousands of citizens. The criminal syndicates in these provinces trapped citizens by publishing fake 'investment consultancy' advertisements on social media platforms. It was established that the suspects, who seized citizens' savings through fraudulent methods, used digital manipulation techniques in a highly professional manner. Thanks to the analyses of the cybercrime teams, all elements of this digital crime network were exposed one by one.

Meanwhile, within the scope of the operation, an end was also put to the physically criminal actions of separatist and destructive crime networks. In operations conducted in the provinces of Antalya, Gaziantep, Şırnak, and Afyonkarahisar, networks organizing narcotics trafficking were dealt a severe blow. In the Ordu province, authorities announced the dismantling of a syndicate that facilitated illegal betting via websites and obtained substantial financial gains through this method. Furthermore, it was discovered that the crime syndicate based in Ordu managed money transfer processes by acting as intermediaries in the laundering of illegal betting revenues. It was recorded that another syndicate operating in the Kilis province extorted businesses and sought to obtain financial benefits through methods such as coercion, assault, and threats.

Finally, the security investigation also uncovered internal organizations that had infiltrated public institutions, causing damage to the state. In operations conducted in the Malatya province, suspects who committed the crime of 'embezzlement' to the detriment of public institutions and damaging the state budget were apprehended. Large-scale and simultaneous operations against similar crime syndicates were also successfully carried out in the provinces of Ankara, Diyarbakır, Edirne, and Kocaeli. The 228 apprehended suspects were transferred to the courthouse after the completion of security and administrative procedures. Authorities emphasized that the relentless fight against organized crime syndicates will continue with determination, and the zero-tolerance policy against all networks attempting to disrupt public peace remains in effect.