Türkiye arrests over 50 in crackdown on illegal betting network

The Turkish gendarmerie has arrested 58 of 61 suspects detained in a large-scale operation targeting an alleged online illegal betting organisation.

The operation was carried out under the coordination of the Şanlıurfa Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, with participation from units responsible for anti-smuggling, organised crime, cybercrime, and the financial intelligence agency MASAK, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

Raids were conducted simultaneously on May 13 in Şanlıurfa and 21 other provinces, including Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya, and Izmir.

Investigators believe the suspects were involved in running a criminal network and facilitating illegal online betting.

Authorities said approximately 5.8 billion Turkish lira in transactions were recorded across the suspects’ bank accounts.

Of the 61 individuals brought before the court, 58 were ordered to be arrested.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov