Türkiye busts $135 million fraud syndicate, arresting over 30 individuals VIDEO
Turkish authorities have arrested 35 individuals, including two alleged ringleaders, in a large-scale operation targeting an organised crime syndicate accused of defrauding citizens and laundering criminal proceeds through fake investment platforms.
The group reportedly handled transactions totaling 2.5 billion Turkish lira ($135 million), with Aydın serving as the central hub of their illicit activities, Caliber.Az reports.
The coordinated operation, led by the Turkish Gendarmerie across 11 provinces centered in Aydın, uncovered a sophisticated scheme involving fake stock market applications circulated via social media.
Victims were allegedly lured into investing in fraudulent platforms, with the syndicate subsequently laundering the illicit funds through front companies posing as investment, finance, and crypto consultancy firms
According to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, who announced the operation on social media platform X, 33 of the 35 suspects have been formally arrested. One individual was placed under judicial control, while legal proceedings continue for another.
Aydın merkezli 11 ilde hesaplarında 2,5 Milyar TL'lik işlem hacmi bulunan elebaşılığını K.U. ve H.İ.K'nin yaptığı "Organize Suç Örgütüne" yönelik Jandarmamız tarafından düzenlenen operasyonlarımızda; 2 elebaşının da içerisinde bulunduğu 35 şüpheliyi yakaladık.❗
— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) July 21, 2025
🔻33'ü… pic.twitter.com/eyOxpRxv1L
Authorities seized assets worth approximately 300 million Turkish lira (around $9 million), including 10 vehicles, 16 plots of land, two houses, 814 bank accounts, and 35 crypto wallets. Investigators also confiscated a significant number of documents, records, and digital materials believed to be linked to the criminal enterprise.
The suspects face multiple charges, including:establishing a criminal organisation; qualified fraud using information systems; laundering assets derived from crime.
The operation spanned several major cities and provinces, including Istanbul, İzmir, Antalya, Bursa, and Diyarbakır, among others. It was carried out under the coordination of the Nazilli Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, with the involvement of the Gendarmerie General Command’s Organized Crime and Cybercrime Departments, as well as regional gendarmerie units.
Minister Yerlikaya praised the efforts of law enforcement and judicial authorities, stating,
“We are determined to eradicate organized crime syndicates and gangs that revel in crime.”
The investigation is ongoing.
By Sabina Mammadli
editor@caliber.az
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