Organized crime operation in Istanbul: 32 detained

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya shared that in the "Mahzen-29" operations conducted in Istanbul's Beşiktaş, Avcılar, Esenyurt, and Kağıthane districts, 32 suspects who are members of an organized crime group were apprehended and taken into custody. The suspects were identified as being involved in crimes including intentional homicide, attempted intentional homicide, intentional endangerment of general security, property damage, violation of Law No. 6136, drug manufacturing and trafficking, threats, and insults.

Under the coordination of the EGM KOM Presidency, and through the coordinated efforts of the Istanbul Organized Crime Combat Branch, Public Security Branch, and Intelligence Branch Directorates, operations were carried out across Istanbul between 08.04.2024 and 17.04.2024. The 32 suspects apprehended in the districts of Beşiktaş, Avcılar, Esenyurt, and Kağıthane were found to have been involved in: the attempted intentional homicide of a businessperson named M.A.; the shooting incidents targeting the workplace of businessperson O.Z. in Esenyurt district on 12.04.2024 and 13.04.2024; the shooting incidents targeting the residence of businessperson O.Z. in Avcılar district on 09.04.2024 and 13.04.2024; the kidnapping incident in Esenyurt district on 15.04.2024, footage of which was reflected in the press; the fatal shooting of an individual named D.E. in Kağıthane district on 13.04.2024; the hand grenade attacks on the Mert Yedi Emin parking lot in Kağıthane district on 08.04.2024 and 13.04.2024; and the procurement of 30 ready-to-sell firearms to be distributed to organization members and the production of weapons by assembling numerous firearm parts in Eyüpsultan district on 16.04.2024.

As a result of the operations, 34 unlicensed pistols, 2 unlicensed automatic pistols, the vehicles used in the 3 aforementioned incidents and 3 fake license plates used on those vehicles, various amounts of pre-packaged drugs ready for sale, 1 precision scale, and a large amount of foreign currency and Turkish Lira were seized.

News Source: İHA