Türkiye busts illegal betting ring across 41 provinces 111 detained

Authorities in Türkiye have detained 111 suspects in a large-scale operation targeting an alleged illegal betting and money laundering network spanning 41 provinces.

The operation was carried out under the coordination of the Cyber Crimes Department and the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, with support from the Diyarbakır Police Cyber Crimes Unit, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

Investigators focused on offences linked to “facilitating the transfer of funds from illegal betting” and “laundering proceeds of crime”.

According to the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK), the network’s transaction volume was estimated at 35.86 billion Turkish lira (about $789 million), underscoring the scale of the alleged scheme.

Simultaneous raids were conducted across 41 provinces, resulting in the detention of 111 suspects.

As part of the investigation, authorities seized assets including funds held in 190 bank and cryptocurrency accounts.

In addition, property believed to be linked to criminal proceeds—comprising nine vehicles, including cars and a motorcycle, as well as two plots of land—was confiscated, with the total value estimated at around 10.75 million lira (about $236,500).

By Aghakazim Guliyev