Shipments from South America to Turkey: The untold stories of the four captured drug lords

Under the coordination of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and the General Directorate of Security's Anti-Narcotic Crimes Department, the 'Kuyu-4' operations were carried out in Istanbul, as well as Ankara, Diyarbakır, Kilis, Muğla, Mersin, Antalya, Kocaeli, Hakkâri, Mardin, Van, and Balıkesir. A total of 62 suspects were apprehended in the operation targeting organizations determined to be transporting cocaine, heroin, and skunk from the Middle East, South America, and the Balkans to Turkey and European countries.

According to the report by Ali Rıza Akbulut from Hürriyet; it was determined that the four organizations led by Mert (Orhan) Ünğan, İbrahim Kurtar, Aydın Razaki, and Recep Özyıldız were responsible for a total of 3 tons and 367 kilograms of narcotics and stimulants seized during operations in Turkey and various other countries. During the operations, 200 real estate assets with a total value of 11 billion lira, 85 motor vehicles, partnership shares in 30 companies, and all banking assets were seized. 13 unlicensed pistols, 1 unlicensed rifle, 3 money counting machines, and large quantities of foreign currency, Turkish Lira, gold, and jewelry were confiscated.

ANNOUNCED BY MINISTER YERLİKAYA

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya shared the following information on his social media account:

“It has been determined that the drug criminal organization led by Mert (Orhan) Ünğan transported cocaine, heroin, and skunk from the Middle East, South America, and the Balkans to Turkey and European countries. It was revealed that E.D., who held a managerial position within the organization, was responsible for the skunk brought to Turkey from Balkan countries and the heroin sourced from Middle Eastern countries, while A.N., S.İ., E.Ş., L.T., Ö.A., T.A., İ.A., and M.A.A. managed all field operations. The organization was found to be responsible for 2 tons and 457 kilograms of narcotics seized in Turkey and other countries, and it was determined that they laundered the proceeds from drug trafficking through the hotel, tourism, jewelry, currency exchange, and construction sectors. The organization led by İbrahim Kurtar, known as the 'Kurtar' group, was found to have significant activities in heroin shipments to European countries, particularly Turkey, and was responsible for 372 kilograms of heroin seized in Russia and the Netherlands, with S.K., Z.K., E.P., M.T., and M.T. playing active roles in the field.”

Uluslararası Uyuşturucu Madde Ticareti Yapmak ve Suçtan Elde Edilen Suç Gelirlerinin Aklanmasına yönelik 4?? ayrı Organize Suç Örgütüne yönelik yapılan KUYU-4 operasyonlarında bu organize suç örgütlerinin elebaşıları olan;
1?? Mert (Orhan) Ünğan,
2?? İbrahim Kurtar,
3?? Aydın Razaki… pic.twitter.com/uOJKou0taU

— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) June 8, 2024

‘KING OF THE PORTS’ AYDIN RAZAKİ

It was determined that Aydın Razaki, nicknamed the “King of the Ports,” marketed and transferred heroin sourced from the Middle East to European countries and laundered the money through his own casinos located abroad. The name Razaki had also appeared in the MASAK report prepared for the Seçil Erzan case.

RECEP ÖZYILDIZ

The drug criminal organization led by Recep Özyıldız was found to be responsible for 51 kilograms of heroin seized in an operation conducted in Turkey in previous years. The most notable feature of this criminal organization is its 'family structure' regarding drug trafficking. It was determined that an individual named Abdulkadir Koyunbakan was also among the management staff of the criminal organization.

İBRAHİM KURTAR

The leadership and management staff of the “Kurtar” criminal organization have been exposed through investigations conducted to date. It was determined that the criminal organization had significant activities in heroin shipments to our country and European countries, and they were responsible for 372 kg of heroin seized in Russia and the Netherlands.

‘GHOST ORHAN’

In 2014, a ship carrying 2 tons and 100 kilograms of heroin off the coast of Greece was captured by the Greek police. Ten days after this incident, another 1 ton of drugs hidden in a warehouse in Piraeus, Greece, was found. The owners of the drugs were allegedly Orhan and İlhan Ünğan and Çetin Koç. These individuals held Naci Şerifi Zindaşti responsible for the seizure of the drugs, and a feud began between them. That same year, Zindaşti’s daughter, Arzu Şerifi Zindaşti, and his nephew were killed in Büyükçekmece. The people who allegedly gave the order for the death of Zindaşti’s daughter and nephew were Orhan Ünğan, his brother İlhan Ünğan, and Çetin Koç. Orhan Ünğan began to be tried for the two murders. Ünğan was acquitted in the case in 2019, but the Court of Appeal overturned the decision. The trial is still ongoing.

CHANGED HIS NAME IN 2023

Orhan Ünğan, who was imprisoned for another crime, was caught while trying to flee abroad after being released from prison on leave due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, but was later released. Orhan Ünğan changed his name to “Mert” in 2023.

SELİM IŞIK

Selim Işık, one of the former drug lords nicknamed “Fox Selim,” who was captured in the operation against Ünğan, is also a notable name. Selim Işık is one of the individuals responsible for managing all field operations in the criminal organization led by Ünğan. The heroin smuggler “Fox Selim” had previously come to the agenda with allegations that he collected protection money on behalf of Mahmut Yıldırım, codenamed “Yeşil,” a key figure in the Susurluk scandal.