Bribery scandal at Kapıkule! 38 officers detained
In a bribery operation conducted at the Kapıkule Border Gate, 38 customs enforcement officers were detained, and arrest warrants were issued for 350 individuals identified as having paid bribes. Millions of liras in cash were seized during the operation.
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The bribery investigation into customs enforcement officers working at the Kapıkule Border Gate, one of Turkey's gateways to Europe, has been concluded, and 38 customs officers were detained in the operation. Hidden cameras were installed at the lanes to document the bribery, and arrest warrants were issued for 350 people identified as having paid bribes to the officers.
THEY WERE MONITORED FOR THREE MONTHS
In a joint operation conducted by the Edirne Gendarmerie Command's Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime (KOM) Branch, the Intelligence Branch, and the Edirne Customs Enforcement, Smuggling and Intelligence Directorate, it was determined that some customs enforcement officers at the Kapıkule Customs Gate were taking bribes from people entering and leaving Turkey, as part of technical criminal activities and planned intelligence operations initiated in January. Following this, hidden cameras were installed at the lanes.
SIMULTANEOUS OPERATIONS CONDUCTED AT OFFICERS' HOMES
In line with evidence obtained as a result of technical and physical surveillance conducted by the Public Prosecutor's Office, simultaneous searches were carried out at the addresses of 38 customs enforcement officers. 38 suspects were detained in the operation, which was supported by the Gendarmerie General Command's KOM Department ATAK teams, the Intelligence Department's Technical Branch, and the Edirne Customs Enforcement, Smuggling and Intelligence Directorate. During the searches of the suspects' addresses, 14 thousand 600 dollars, 21 thousand 325 euros, and 89 thousand 800 liras were seized.
THOSE WHO PAID BRIBES ALSO IDENTIFIED
Furthermore, arrest warrants were issued for 350 suspects alleged to have paid bribes. The processing of the detained suspects at the gendarmerie continues.