İlave TV founder Arif Kocabıyık caught hiding under truck trailer while attempting to flee abroad

According to information obtained, as part of the judicial process conducted by the Edirne Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, two individuals were discovered hidden under the trailer of a truck with the tractor plate 42 BHK 513 and trailer plate 42 AKC 930, which arrived at the Kapıkule Customs Area to exit to Bulgaria on August 31, 2026, at approximately 15:11.

During the checks, it was determined that the individuals in question were Turkish citizen Arif Kocabıyık and Iranian citizen Shayan Peiman S.

In the subsequent inquiry, it was determined that Arif Kocabıyık, known to the public as the founder of İlave TV, was subject to a travel ban issued by the Antalya 35th Criminal Court of First Instance under the crime of "insulting the President" as regulated by Article 299/1 of the Turkish Penal Code.

It was determined that Kocabıyık, who remained under a travel ban, had hidden under the truck trailer to exit to Bulgaria and was attempting to cross the border in this manner.

Following the discovery of the incident, necessary judicial proceedings were initiated in accordance with the instructions of the Edirne Chief Public Prosecutor's Office; Arif Kocabıyık and the truck driver, Muhterem A., were taken into custody.

Instructions were given for the suspects to be referred to the Edirne Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in person after the completion of their procedures. It was learned that the investigation into the incident is being continued by the Edirne Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

MINISTRY OF TRADE: KOCABIYIK WAS CAUGHT HIDING UNDER THE TRUCK

In a statement made by the Ministry of Trade, it was stated, "The individual named Arif Kocabıyık was caught by our teams from the Ministry of Trade's Edirne Customs Enforcement, Smuggling and Intelligence Directorate while hiding under a truck at the Kapıkule Customs Gate."

In the statement made by the Ministry of Trade, it was noted, "The individual named Arif Kocabıyık, who has a search record for insulting our President and various other crimes, was caught by our teams from the Ministry of Trade's Edirne Customs Enforcement, Smuggling and Intelligence Directorate while hiding under a truck at the Kapıkule Customs Gate.

Following intelligence information that he was hiding in truck parks in Edirne, Arif Kocabıyık, who was caught as a result of the pursuit and checks initiated by our Customs Enforcement teams, was handed over to our police units after the completion of his procedures."