85 victimized women rescued, 24 suspects arrested in prostitution operation in Istanbul

Teams from the Istanbul Police Department's Public Security Branch, Morality Bureau, conducted a prostitution operation following a tip-off. They initiated an investigation upon reports that local and foreign women were being forced into prostitution for money in massage parlors and homes.

As a result of the investigation, the teams identified 20 men and 18 women involved in the crime and carried out simultaneous operations at 60 addresses across 22 districts to rescue the victimized women, seize evidence of the crime, and apprehend the suspects.

During the operation, 38 suspects, who were the owners of the massage parlors and homes, were apprehended, while 85 victimized women, 33 of whom were foreign nationals, were rescued.

Searches at the addresses resulted in the seizure of 56 mobile phones, 60 SIM cards, 122 thousand 600 Turkish Lira, 100 dollars, 300 euros, 13 gold bracelets, a gold prayer bead set, a blank-firing pistol, and a camera recording device, all believed to be proceeds of crime.

Of the suspects referred to the courthouse following police procedures, 24 were arrested by the court, while 14 were released under judicial control provisions.

The 33 foreign nationals among the rescued women were handed over to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management for deportation.