New development in the Kapıkule bribery scandal! 23 officers arrested

Out of 38 customs enforcement officers detained in a bribery operation at the Kapıkule Border Gate, 23 have been arrested. The suspects, whose procedures at the Gendarmerie were completed, were referred to the Edirne Courthouse and subsequently brought before the Edirne 1st Criminal Judgeship of Peace with a request for their arrest following their interrogation by the public prosecutor's office.

Of the suspects, 23 were arrested by the judgeship, while the other 15 were released, 14 of them under judicial control conditions.

INVESTIGATION

A bribery investigation had been launched into customs enforcement officers working at the border gate under the coordination of the Edirne Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

In a joint operation conducted by the Provincial 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 as part of technical criminal activities and planned intelligence operations initiated in January that some customs enforcement officers on duty at the Kapıkule Customs Gate were accepting bribes from those entering and exiting Turkey; consequently, hidden cameras were installed at the inspection lanes.

In line with evidence obtained through technical and physical surveillance by the Public Prosecutor's Office, simultaneous searches were carried out 3 days ago at the addresses of 38 customs enforcement officers.

The 38 suspects were detained in an operation 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 conducted at the suspects' addresses, 14 thousand 600 dollars, 21 thousand 325 euros, and 89 thousand 800 liras were found.

Additionally, arrest warrants were issued for 350 people alleged to have paid bribes.

News Source: 12punto