Crime syndicate leader extradited from Montenegro to Türkiye after intel op
Turkish organized crime leader Binali Camgöz. (Photo by Boris Pejović)
Binali Camgoz, the alleged leader of the notorious “Camgoz Group” organized crime syndicate, and a fugitive wanted for multiple serious crimes, has been extradited from Montenegro to Türkiye following a successful operation by the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT).
Camgoz has 41 criminal records and 25 national arrest warrants for crimes including “establishing a criminal organization, premeditated murder, intentional injury, aggravated robbery, insult, threat, aiding a fugitive, instigation, deprivation of liberty, drug trafficking, and forgery of official documents.”
He had fled Türkiye in 2018.
Binali Camgoz: A fugitive’s trail
Camgoz initially escaped to Georgia in 2018 to evade prosecution for crimes committed in Türkiye. In early 2020, he crossed into Belarus using a fake passport, before ultimately settling in Montenegro.
The Turkish National Police’s Interpol-Europol Department tracked him down, leading to his arrest in July 2022, when he was found with fake identification under the name Mehmet Ali Bayhan.
Described as a “crime machine,” Camgoz continued to manage his criminal operations from abroad. Most notably, he was accused of ordering the killings of two individuals in İzmir on June 4 and 6, 2022.
His name also surfaced in the investigation of the assassination of Serbian gang leader Jovan Vukotic in Istanbul’s Sisli district on September 8, 2022.
Vukotic, who had dodged death several times, was finally targeted by the Daltonlar, a rising Turkish mafia group hired by the Kavac.
The Daltons have introduced the violent tactics of Latin American mafias to Türkiye, using motorcycle assassination squads to eliminate their enemies. Allegedly, they received $1.5 million for the execution of Vukotic.
Turkish Intelligence’s coordinated operation
MIT conducted a meticulous operation to secure Camgoz’s extradition, coordinating with the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior, and other relevant institutions.
Following diplomatic efforts and extensive intelligence work, Camgoz was brought back to Türkiye from Montenegro.
Upon his arrival, Camgoz was handed over by the Montenegrin authorities to MIT, who then transferred him to Turkish law enforcement.
Montenegro’s Minister of Justice, Bojan Bozovic, confirmed the extradition at a press conference, detailing that Camgoz was deemed a national security threat during a Montenegro’s National Security Council meeting.
Lazar Scepanovic, Head of Montenegro’s Crime Fighting Division, highlighted the stringent security measures, noting that 40 police officers were involved in the extradition process.
Interpol had issued a red notice for Camgoz because of his involvement in severe crimes, marking him as a high-risk individual. His arrest and extradition represent a significant victory in Türkiye’s ongoing fight against organized crime.
