Massive fraud network dismantled: 657 accounts blocked

A new wave of operations has been carried out as part of an investigation into illegal betting conducted out of Istanbul. Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek announced on his social media account that a heavy blow had been dealt to the financial and digital infrastructure of organized crime syndicates within the scope of the operation dubbed "PAYMIX-4".

Gürlek stated that the operation was carried out within the framework of a comprehensive investigation conducted by the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command under the coordination of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

SIMULTANEOUS OPERATIONS IN 7 PROVINCES

It was reported that legal proceedings were initiated against a total of 61 suspects in simultaneous raids conducted in the morning hours. It was stated that within the scope of the investigation, panel access was provided to illegal betting sites, salary and earnings transfers were carried out via cryptocurrency, and digital footprints were tracked using cyber intelligence methods.

In the operation, a total of 96 movable and immovable assets, which were assessed to have been obtained from crime, including;

12 vehicles,

30 residences,

54 fields and plots of land,

were seized.

It was also announced that 657 bank accounts and cryptocurrency accounts belonging to the 61 suspects were blocked.

"FIGHT AGAINST DIGITAL AND FINANCIAL TERROR WILL CONTINUE"

Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek stated that the operation was carried out under the coordination of the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Treasury and Finance. It was noted that MASAK (Financial Crimes Investigation Board), forensic units, and cyber intelligence teams also took part in the process.

In his statement, Gürlek emphasized that the state would continue to target the financial sources of criminal organizations and used the following expressions:

"Our fight will continue uninterrupted until we root out digital and financial terror."

WHAT HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY IN PAYMIX OPERATIONS?

In the PAYMIX-1, PAYMIX-2, and PAYMIX-3 operations carried out in the previous stages of the investigation, numerous legal actions had been applied against individuals and companies assessed to have provided financial and technical infrastructure for illegal betting activities.

It was stated that while measures such as seizing assets assessed to have been obtained from crime and blocking accounts were applied in these operations, trustees from the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) were also appointed to some companies.

News Source: 12punto