5 local organized crime groups dismantled in Kafes-23 operations

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on his social media account that the Kafes-23 operation was carried out simultaneously in 13 provinces, centered in Istanbul.

While 5 local organized crime groups were dismantled in the simultaneous operations, 93 suspects were apprehended. In his statement regarding the operations, Minister Yerlikaya said, "We will continue to disrupt the peace of those who disrupt the peace of our nation. 

We are determined to catch the members of organized crime groups one by one and deliver them to justice. 

In the Kafes-23 operations carried out by the Istanbul Provincial Police Department's Organized Crime Combat Branch, it was determined that at 5 separate entertainment venues operating on Istiklal Street in the Beyoğlu district and in Beşiktaş, the organization members would meet foreign tourists under the pretext of asking for directions or taking photos, take the tourists to entertainment venues, and force them to pay high bills; they would surround and intimidate victims who objected to the bill, beat them if they resisted, and search the victims' persons, bags, and other personal belongings, forcibly looting their money, mobile phones, and wallets.

93 WERE FOREIGN NATIONALS

Within the scope of these operations, it was determined that 5 separate organized crime groups, led by the owners of the entertainment venues, victimized 133 individuals, 93 of whom were foreign nationals and 40 of whom were citizens of the Republic of Turkey. 93 suspects were apprehended in the simultaneous operations conducted to capture those involved in acts of Qualified Robbery, Violation of Law No. 6136, Resisting Work, and Concealing Evidence of Crime. 

I congratulate the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Terror and Organized Crime Investigation Bureau, which coordinated the operation, and our Istanbul Provincial Police Department Organized Crime Combat Branch, which carried out the operation. The prayers of our nation are with you. Our fight against crime hubs that disrupt the peace of our people will continue with determination," he stated.