Prostitution Operation in Antalya: 35 Women Rescued, 14 People Detained

The large-scale operation initiated centered in Antalya and targeting a prostitution gang was successfully completed by the Police Department teams. According to official statements regarding the matter, an intensive technical and physical follow-up process was implemented for approximately three months in order to decipher the activities of the suspects. Following this long preparation phase, an operation plan was put into effect to determine the addresses where the crime organization was active and to ascertain the condition of the victims. Within the scope of the information obtained, it was learned that among the cities where simultaneous raids were planned were particularly Antalya and Adana provinces, and the operation was carried out in a coordinated manner in these two centers.

The operational phase was launched with simultaneous raids on determined addresses in Antalya and Adana provinces, and instances of red-handedness were caught. During the checks and searches made by police teams, a large number of female victims, who were evaluated to have been forced or dragged into the prostitution network, were encountered. Necessary procedures were applied to ensure the safety of the victims and to determine whether they were victims of human trafficking, and these individuals were taken to safe areas in cooperation with non-governmental organizations and relevant social aid organizations. As a result of the evaluations, 35 victim women were taken into custody by police units to be reintegrated into life within the scope of the operation, and legal processes were initiated regarding them.

As a result of detailed works aimed at detaining the suspects, who were the target of the operation and thought to manage the organization of the crime gang, a detention decision was made for a total of 18 people. All of the suspects were caught in the raids where the operation took place and were taken to the police center, and after their initial statements were taken here, they were referred to the judicial authorities. In the process continuing at the courthouse, the detention requests were evaluated by the prosecutor's office according to the degree of the suspects' contact with the crime. It was stated that the majority of the suspects faced accusations such as managing the organization or exploiting the victims, and that necessary actions were taken to examine the details of the file.

After the interrogation procedures were completed at the judicial authorities, decisions for detention, judicial control, or release were made regarding the suspects. Of the 18 suspects brought before the Magistrate Judge, a detention decision was issued for 14 of them on the grounds of strong suspicion of crime and risk of flight. It was announced that the detained suspects were sent to prison for the crimes of human trafficking and encouraging prostitution, and that the investigation carried out against them was being deepened. It was noted that the other suspects for whom no detention decision was made were released under judicial control conditions, and that a ban on traveling abroad was imposed on these persons and the investigation against them was continuing.

It was emphasized that such operations will continue decisively for the safety of society and especially the protection of vulnerable groups, and it was stated that the investigation into the incident was progressing in a multidimensional way. Police officials stated that the operation was not limited to catching suspects, but also aimed at drying up the financial resources of such networks and that the necessary evidence was collected for this. A coordinated study is being carried out with the Ministry of Family and Social Services for the psychological and physical recovery of the victimized women, while it was learned that the operation was continuing by expanding to other suspects and wanted persons. Officials emphasized that everyone who supports or participates in such organizations will be held accountable before the law.