'Change vehicle' operation in 10 provinces centered in Istanbul

Teams from the Istanbul Police Department's Public Security Branch launched an investigation to apprehend suspects involved in various crimes. Simultaneous operations were conducted at addresses identified under the scope of "establishing an organization for the purpose of committing crimes," "forgery of official documents," "qualified fraud," "auto theft," and "violations of Law No. 5607."

It was determined that the suspects took serial numbers from heavily damaged vehicles they had acquired from the market and applied them to vehicles brought from abroad or vehicles under lien. It was established that they generated illicit income by selling these vehicles.

45 VEHICLES SEIZED

During the operations carried out in Istanbul's Maltepe, Pendik, Kartal, Sultanbeyli, Ataşehir, Kağıthane, and Sultangazi districts, as well as in the provinces of Sakarya, Bursa, Ankara, İzmir, Çorum, Adıyaman, Balıkesir, Kocaeli, and Diyarbakır, 31 suspects were apprehended and 45 vehicles were seized. The apprehended suspects were referred to the courthouse after their procedures at the Auto Theft Bureau were completed. While 12 of the suspects were released under judicial control, 19 were arrested and sent to prison. On the other hand, it was learned that 6 suspects had previously been arrested and sent to prison.

"THEY WILL NOT ESCAPE THE EYES OF OUR ISTANBUL POLICE"

The vehicles seized during searches at the suspects' addresses were displayed at the Public Security Branch. Making a statement to members of the press after the exhibition, Istanbul Provincial Police Chief Selami Yıldız said, "Within the scope of the operations carried out by our Public Security Branch against a criminal network that makes illicit gains by 'changing' vehicles—adapting engine and chassis numbers from heavily damaged vehicles onto vehicles brought from abroad or vehicles with liens—37 individuals were detained. Of these, 6 are in prison, 19 have been arrested, and 12 have been released under judicial control. A total of 45 vehicles were seized as part of the operations. Our Public Security Branch continues its work. As the Istanbul Police Department, our fight against these criminal networks that target our citizens' property through trickery and fraud will continue without compromise. Those who engage in trickery and fraud before the law will certainly not escape the eyes of our Istanbul police. Our fight continues unabated," he stated.

News Source: İHA