Kuyu-46: Türkiye detains 166 suspects in nationwide operation against loan sharking and fraud

Türkiye has conducted a large-scale operation dubbed Kuyu-46, targeting loan sharks and fraudsters across 56 provinces, leading to the detention of 166 suspects, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on X.

The operation, coordinated by the Ministry of Interior, took place in major cities including Erzurum, Eskişehir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Istanbul, Izmir, and many others, Caliber.Az reports, citing Yerlikaya’s publication.

56 İlde Tefecilere ve Dolandırıcılara yönelik Mali Suç Örgütlerine düzenlenen “KUYU-46” operasyonlarında 166 şüpheli yakalandı❗

Biz durmadan duraksamadan suç ve suçlularla mücadelemizi azim ve kararlılıkla sürdürmeye devam edeceğiz. Organize suç örgütleri ve çeteler gibi… pic.twitter.com/PFlNFgVerc

— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) November 27, 2024

Yerlikaya shared details of the operation on his social media account, stating, “In the course of Operation Kuyu-46, carried out in various provinces including Erzurum, Eskişehir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Istanbul, Izmir, and many others, 166 suspects were detained."

The detained individuals face several charges, including usury (loan sharking), fraudulent activities damaging public institutions, fraudulent practices against individuals, counterfeiting money, forgery of official and private documents, and violations of the Tax Procedure Law.

The suspects are believed to have operated through illegal and deceptive schemes, causing significant harm to both individuals and public institutions.

As a result of the operation, authorities seized 20 unlicensed handguns, 4 unlicensed hunting rifles, and a significant number of forged checks and promissory notes.

By Khagan Isayev