Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek announced that U.S. citizen Richard James Schueler, who was wanted via an Interpol red notice, was captured in an operation conducted in Istanbul.
According to Gürlek's statement, the operation was carried out as a result of efforts coordinated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, executed by the Intelligence and Financial Crimes Investigation branches of the Istanbul Police Department, with the support of the National Intelligence Organization (MİT).
Following the determination that Schueler was in Istanbul, an operation was conducted in Beşiktaş on October 14, 2026. During the operation, Schueler and his wife were detained. In the ongoing investigation, 3 more individuals, who were stated to be acting as Schueler's bodyguards, were also captured.
WHAT WAS SEIZED DURING THE SEARCHES?
Within the scope of the investigation, judicial searches were conducted at a total of 15 addresses in Beşiktaş, Üsküdar, and Sarıyer. According to the announced inventory, 7 million 150 thousand US dollars, 160 thousand TL, and 6 crypto asset cold wallets were seized during the searches.
It was also reported that 300 bags of various brands, 100 pairs of shoes, 136 pairs of glasses, 28 wristwatches, 97 pieces of jewelry, and various valuable items were confiscated at the addresses.
The digital materials included 29 mobile phones, 12 laptops, 11 computer towers, 19 SSDs and external hard drives, 46 USB flash drives, and 19 graphics cards. During the searches, 4 long-barreled rifles, 3 unlicensed pistols, and 1,400 cartridges were also found.
Gürlek stated that the examination of the seized materials is ongoing and that judicial proceedings against the suspects are continuing.
The statement shared the information that the Interpol red notice for Schueler was issued upon the request of Finland. International sources indicate that the red notice is linked to charges of aggravated tax fraud.
Minister Gürlek's statement is as follows:
"TURKEY WILL NOT BE A HAVEN FOR TRANSNATIONAL CRIMES AND WANTED SUSPECTS!
We are determinedly continuing our efforts with the strong coordination of our security and intelligence units to ensure that our country does not become a place where people wanted for alleged crimes can take refuge, and to ensure the capture of internationally wanted individuals and prevent them from escaping justice.
U.S. citizen Richard James Schueler, who was reported to have had an INTERPOL red notice issued against him on allegations of committing 1 billion dollars in crypto asset fraud in the U.S. and Finland, was captured and detained in Istanbul.
As a result of the efforts coordinated by our Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, executed by the Intelligence and Financial Crimes Investigation branches of our Istanbul Police Department, with the support of our National Intelligence Organization, the suspect's presence in Istanbul was determined.
With the operation carried out in Beşiktaş on October 14, 2026, Schueler and his wife were detained. Within the scope of the ongoing efforts, 3 more individuals determined to be acting as Schueler's bodyguards were also captured and detained.
In the judicial searches conducted at a total of 15 addresses in the districts of Beşiktaş, Üsküdar, and Sarıyer;
- 7 million 150 thousand US dollars and 160 thousand TL,
- 6 cold wallets,
- 300 bags of various brands, 100 pairs of shoes, 136 pairs of glasses, and 28 wristwatches,
- 97 pieces of jewelry and various valuable items,
- 29 mobile phones, 12 laptops, 11 computer towers, 19 SSDs/external hard drives, 46 USB flash drives, and 19 graphics cards,
- 4 long-barreled rifles, 3 unlicensed pistols, and 1,400 cartridges were seized.
Judicial proceedings regarding the suspects and examinations of the seized materials are continuing.
I would like to thank our Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office for meticulously conducting the investigation, the relevant units of our Istanbul Police Department for carrying out the operation, our National Intelligence Organization, and all public officials who contributed.
We will not allow anyone to see Turkey as a safe harbor where they can escape justice. We will continue with determination to protect the security of our country and to further strengthen our international cooperation in the fight against transnational crimes."
News Source: 12punto
