'Illegal betting' operation in 23 provinces: 6.2 billion transaction volume uncovered

A transaction volume of 6 billion 182 million TL was identified in an illegal betting operation conducted across 23 provinces. 27 of the 42 individuals taken into custody have been arrested. 

Interior Minister Yerlikaya announced the development on his social media account as follows: 

"In our operations organized by our Gendarmerie targeting the crime of 'Illegal Betting' in 23 provinces; we apprehended 42 suspects who had a transaction volume of 6 Billion 182 Million TL in their accounts over the last 1.5 years.

-27 were ARRESTED. -Judicial control measures were applied to 15. We have prevented our citizens from suffering financial and moral harm from the 'Illegal Betting' crime that could be committed through these individuals.

Assets belonging to the suspects worth approximately 203 Million TL; including 25 houses/plots of land, 25 vehicles, 428 bank accounts, and 35 crypto accounts were seized. Under the coordination of the Batman Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and our Gendarmerie Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime (KOM) and Cybercrime Combat Departments; the suspects captured in operations held in Batman, Adana, Afyonkarahisar, Ankara, Antalya, Balıkesir, Bitlis, Bursa, Gaziantep, Hakkari, Hatay, Isparta, İstanbul, İzmir, Kayseri, Kahramanmaraş, Konya, Manisa, Muğla, Mersin, Osmaniye, Şırnak, and Van were found to have:

Facilitated illegal betting via websites and acted as intermediaries for illegal money transfers,

Laundered the illegal income they obtained by transferring it to international accounts via cryptocurrency accounts opened by third parties,

Received commissions from individuals participating in illegal betting. Investigations have been initiated against them by our prosecutor's offices. I congratulate those who contributed."