Over 4,000 wanted individuals captured in Türkiye

In a nationwide crackdown, Turkish authorities arrested 4,139 individuals wanted for various crimes during the “Cember-23” operations held over the past week, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced.

Major nationwide operation targets wanted criminals

The large-scale “Cember-23” operations, aimed at capturing individuals with outstanding arrest warrants, took place across Türkiye over the course of a week. The operation resulted in the arrest of 4,139 individuals, Yerlikaya said in a statement shared on his social media accounts.

The arrests include:

• 700 for theft
• 140 for fraud
• 360 for robbery
• 50 for murder
• 106 for sexual offenses
• 721 for drug-related crimes
• 49 for terrorism charges
• 448 for smuggling and organized crime
• 1,565 for other offenses

Minister Yerlikaya pledges continued crackdown

Yerlikaya emphasized the government’s commitment to maintaining public order and ensuring that those who disrupt peace and safety are brought to justice. “We will not allow anyone to disturb the peace of our citizens or threaten the security of our streets,” he stated.

Çember Operasyonları Devam Ediyor❗️

8️⃣1️⃣ ilde son 1️⃣ haftadır “Mahkemelerimizce Hapis Cezasına Yönelik Yakalama Kararı Verilen Şahıslara” düzenlenen “ÇEMBER-23” operasyonlarında 4️⃣.1️⃣3️⃣9️⃣ şahıs yakalandı❗

Hapis Cezası almış ve mahkemelerimizce yakalanması istenenler için… pic.twitter.com/4TKu8D6GUz

— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) October 10, 2024

Example arrest: 26-year sentence within minutes

Highlighting the success of the operation, Yerlikaya provided an example of a swift arrest: A man identified as O.H., who had been sentenced to 26 years and nine months for intentional injury, was captured just one minute after the arrest warrant was issued on Oct. 8, 2024, in Sakarya. O.H. was apprehended during a road checkpoint by police in Ordu province and subsequently taken to prison.

Congratulations to law enforcement

Yerlikaya congratulated the police and gendarmerie forces for their dedication and successful execution of the operations, reiterating that these efforts will continue to ensure public safety across the country.