Turkish securities forces arrest 30 in massive crime syndicate

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announces the successful dismantling of an organized crime syndicate, with 30 suspects apprehended during ‘Mahzen-49’ operations across nine provinces

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced the successful dismantling of an organized crime syndicate, which led to the apprehension of 20 suspects during “Mahzen-49” operations conducted across nine provinces – centered in Cankiri.

Yerlikaya shared on social media that the operations led to the capture of the syndicate’s leader, Durmus Gormez, along with 29 other suspects.

“I want our esteemed nation to know that we are determined to cleanse our country of organized crime syndicates and gangs. Regardless of their size, we will dismantle organized crime groups and bring them to justice,” Yerlikaya stated.

The General Directorate of Security’s Anti coordinated the operations-Smuggling and Organized Crime Department (KOM) and executed by the Cankiri Provincial Police Department’s KOM Branch. They spanned Cankiri, Ankara, Istanbul, Rize, Kastamonu, Kırıkkale, Corum, Duzce, and Sakarya.

The suspects are accused of engaging in various crimes, including establishing a criminal organization, threats, intimidation, extortion, drug trafficking, and illegal arms trade.

During the operations, law enforcement officers seized 15 unlicensed pistols, 10 unlicensed rifles, numerous promissory notes, money, and various amounts of narcotics. Yerlikaya praised the officers for their successful efforts in dismantling the crime syndicate.