Statement from the Minister of Interior on Police Working Hours and New Generation Crime Syndicates

Minister of Interior Mustafa Çiftçi participated in the Hafta Sonu program broadcast on CNN Türk to make important statements regarding the country's agenda. Minister Çiftçi, answering questions from Hakan Çelik, who hosted the program, made evaluations especially on the working conditions of security units and current threat elements. Announcing that a significant change will be made in the working hours of police officers serving in the law enforcement agency, Çiftçi stated that they expect this step to increase the motivation of the personnel and the quality of service. The statement was welcomed with great satisfaction by both active security personnel and their families. It was emphasized that as a ministry, the necessary steps will continue to be taken to ensure that all personnel can work under more humane conditions.

Minister Çiftçi stated that another critical topic he brought to the agenda is the security threats faced by Türkiye. He pointed out that the structure of organized crime syndicates operating in the black market has changed significantly in recent years. Emphasizing that traditional crime syndicates have been replaced by 'new generation' crime networks that effectively use technology and spread rapidly, Çiftçi stated that this situation makes it mandatory for security forces to update their strategies. It is extremely difficult to dismantle these new types of crime syndicates with classical police methods. For this reason, officials warned that the technological infrastructure of law enforcement must be strengthened and international cooperation must be increased.

Drug trafficking continues to be at the top of the main criminal activities that security units struggle with the most. Stating that the use of drugs and the easy accessibility of these substances on the streets have become a societal problem, Çiftçi said that they are working intensively to protect the young population from this danger in particular. Step-by-step detentions are being carried out against street dealers and large network leaders through operations organized by law enforcement units. The Minister argued that the fight against drugs should not be limited to police operations only, but requires a holistic approach involving families and educational institutions. He added that not a single young person can be lost in this area, and that this issue is one of the government's top priorities.

Alongside physical crimes, cyber fraud cases occurring in digital environments also took up a significant portion of Minister Çiftçi's statements. Stating that with the increase in digital transformation, a serious upward trend has been observed in cases where citizens are victimized by illegal methods, the Minister reported that the methods of cybercriminals are becoming increasingly complex every day. The theft of credit card information, fake investment sites, and various digital fraud traps continue to target citizens' hard-earned savings. The capacities of the cybercrime teams within the General Directorate of Security are constantly being increased in order to prevent these digital threats. Public awareness campaigns are being carried out to ensure that citizens are more careful against such fraud attempts and protect their personal data.

Finally, the Minister emphasized that illegal betting sites, which have almost become a sector in recent times and victimize large masses, are also one of the biggest threats for Türkiye. He stated that these illegal structures, which are foreign-sourced but have many hitmen and usurers inside the country, not only cause economic losses but are also seen as one of the main sources feeding cybercrimes and violent incidents. It is frequently included in intelligence reports that the financial dimension of illegal betting operations has reached enormous figures and that this money is usually transferred to other dark deeds. Minister Çiftçi announced to the public in this broadcast that the fight against these digital and physical crime networks will continue uninterruptedly, and that the police force will be more prepared and equipped than ever before against new generation crimes.