Over 90,000 unlicensed firearms seized in Türkiye in first 10 months of 2024

Turkish security forces confiscated 90,317 unlicensed firearms between Jan. 1 and Oct. 31, 2024, as part of nationwide operations to curb illegal weapons and reduce firearm-related crimes.

A total of 100,317 individuals were subject to legal proceedings during this period, according to security sources.

Unlicensed firearms account for most firearm-related crimes

Data revealed unlicensed firearms were used in 3,662 of the 4,904 firearm-related crimes reported in the first 10 months of 2024.

A broader review of crimes between 2020 and 2024 shows that 19,807 of 26,439 firearm-related offenses involved unlicensed weapons.

Key statistics

• 2024 (10 months): 597 intentional homicides, 473 involving unlicensed firearms.
• 2023: 789 homicides, 654 with unlicensed firearms.
• 2022: 786 homicides, 604 with unlicensed firearms.

Rising enforcement efforts against unlicensed firearms

Authorities recorded 4,082 incidents of firearm-related injuries in the first 10 months of 2024, with 2,991 linked to unlicensed weapons. Security forces have ramped up enforcement, resulting in the seizures of tens of thousands of illegal firearms in recent years.

Yearly figures for firearm-related injuries involving unlicensed weapons.

• 2020: 2,454 incidents
• 2021: 2,945 incidents
• 2022: 3,533 incidents
• 2023: 4,100 incidents
• 2024 (10 months): 2,991 incidents

Stricter penalties introduced for unlicensed firearm offenses

In November 2024, Türkiye introduced stricter penalties for unlicensed firearm possession under new amendments to the Internal Affairs Officers Law.

Key provisions include

• Prison terms for possession or purchase increased from 1 to 3 years to 2-4 years.
• Individuals involved in importing or selling firearm components, such as barrels and firing pins, face 5–12 years in prison.
• Modifying non-lethal firearms, such as blank-firing guns, into real firearms is now classified as a criminal offense, with violators subject to imprisonment.