82 arrested in nationwide cybercrime operations in Turkiye

Turkish Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya has announced that 82 suspects have been apprehended in the “Cybereye-2” operations targeting cybercrimes, coordinated by the Cybercrimes Department of the General Directorate of Security in Elazig and Bingol and extending across 41 provinces.

Elazığ ve Bingöl merkezli 4️⃣1️⃣ ilde "Çevrimiçi Çocuk Müstehcenliği, Yasa Dışı Bahis ve Kişisel Verileri Hukuka Aykırı Olarak Verme veya Ele Geçirme" suçlarına yönelik düzenlenen “SİBERAĞ-2” operasyonlarında 8️⃣2️⃣ şüpheli yakalandı❗️

Aziz Milletimizin Bilmesini İsterim ki;
En… pic.twitter.com/gbTLTSPOdI

— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) July 26, 2024

According to Minister Yerlikaya, the operations were carried out by the Cybercrimes Branch Directorates of Provincial Police Departments in Adana, Adiyaman, Afyonkarahisar, Antalya, Artvin, Aksaray, Balikesir, Bilecik, Bolu, Canakkale, Bursa, Erzurum, Eskisehir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Istanbul, Izmir, Karabuk, Kayseri, Kirklareli, Kirşehir, Kilis, Konya, Mardin, Manisa, Mersin, Mugla, Nevşehir, Ordu, Osmaniye, Sakarya, Siirt, Sivas, Sinop, Sanliurfa, Tekirdag, Trabzon, Yalova, and Zonguldak, focusing on online child pornography.

As a result of the operations, 80 suspects were identified and apprehended for committing “online child pornography” crimes, in collaboration with international independent organizations such as National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Child Protection System.

Furthermore, as a result of efforts by the Cyber Crimes Branch and Public Order Branch of the Elazig Provincial Police Department, one suspect was apprehended for “illegally obtaining, providing, or disseminating personal data,” having been found to unlawfully sell personal data of citizens through a social media application for profit.

In addition, the Cybercrimes Branch of the Bingol Provincial Police Department apprehended one suspect in an operation targeting violations of “Law No. 7258 on the Arrangement of Betting and Chance Games in Football and Other Sports Competitions,” for promoting illegal betting sites through social media applications.

Numerous digital materials were seized during the operations. In his statement, Minister Yerlikaya emphasized their determination to combat cybercrimes, noting, “I want our esteemed nation to know that one of our top priorities is to protect our children. Our fight against crime and criminals will continue resolutely 24/7 in cyberspace as it does in the physical world.”