Operations in 5 provinces: 3 more gangs dismantled

According to the statement made by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya on his social media account, "Kuyu-2" operations were carried out in 5 provinces centered in Aydın, Erzurum, and Karaman, under the coordination of the Gendarmerie General Command's Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime (KOM) Department.

Noting that 3 organized crime groups led by Hakan Gürel in Aydın, Erkan Yaprak and Muhammet Tokyay in Erzurum, and İbrahim Öztürk in Karaman were dismantled during the operations, Yerlikaya stated that 45 suspects who were members of these organized crime groups were also apprehended.

Yerlikaya stated, "I want our noble nation to know that no matter where they flee to the other end of the world, we will catch the members of organized crime groups who are arrogant in their crimes one by one and deliver them to justice. With the prayers and support of our nation, our operations against organized crime groups and gangs will continue with determination."

Aydın, Erzurum ve Karaman merkezli 5? ilde Jandarma tarafından düzenlenen "KUYU-2" operasyonlarında;
??Aydın’da Hakan Gürel’in,
??Erzurum'da Erkan Yaprak ve Muhammet Tokyay'ın,
??Karaman’da İbrahim Öztürk’ün elebaşılığını yaptığı 3? ayrı Organize Suç Örgütü çökertildi??… pic.twitter.com/bL8LYb9sLF

— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) May 31, 2024

Explaining that 21 suspects identified as committing the crimes of qualified fraud, forgery of official documents, and opposition to the Tax Procedure Law were apprehended in operations conducted in the Söke, Kuşadası, Didim, and Efeler districts as a result of the work carried out by the Aydın Provincial Gendarmerie Command under the coordination of the Söke Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Yerlikaya stated that it was determined the suspects operated as couriers on online sales platforms and caused significant financial damage to the state through fake invoices and receipts by making it appear as if fuel had been purchased from gas stations.

Minister Yerlikaya noted that 17 suspects identified as having organizedly committed the crime of "manufacturing and trafficking of narcotic substances" were apprehended in operations conducted in Erzurum and Muş as a result of the work carried out by the Erzurum Provincial Gendarmerie Command under the coordination of the Karayazı Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, and that it was determined the suspects were selling the drugs and stimulants they had procured on the market.

Stating that 7 suspects identified as having organizedly committed the crime of usury were apprehended in operations conducted in Karaman and Konya as a result of the work carried out by the Karaman Provincial Gendarmerie Command under the coordination of the Ermenek Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Yerlikaya reported that it was determined the suspects gave loans to citizens in poor economic conditions in exchange for high interest, made them sign promissory notes, did not return the signed promissory notes to the victims even after they paid their debts, attempted to collect the debt again through assault, force, and armed threats, and obtained unfair gains by using the promissory notes they did not return to the victims to seize movable and immovable assets taken as collateral through enforcement proceedings or by using force to transfer them to the names of organization members.

Yerlikaya shared the following information regarding what was seized in the operations:

"As a result of the operations, pistols and shotguns, various amounts of narcotic substances, a large number of fake invoices, receipts, promissory notes, and title deeds identified as being used in the crimes, as well as numerous digital materials were seized. I congratulate the Söke, Karayazı, and Ermenek Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices and our heroic gendarmerie who carried out the operations. May God protect them. Our nation's prayers are with you."

News Source: AA