Minister Ali Yerlikaya Reveals Details of Operation “SİBERGÖZ-47” Targeting Criminal Networks
Minister of Interior, Ali Yerlikaya, disclosed the details of the “SİBERGÖZ-47” operations targeting crimes such as “Violation of Law No. 7258, Establishing an Organization for Criminal Purposes, and Money Laundering of Assets Derived from Crime.” These operations were conducted in 27 provinces, centrally in Mersin, Ağrı, and Antalya. Yerlikaya reported that 97 suspects, with a total transaction volume of 21 billion TL in their accounts, were apprehended.
As a result of the operations, assets worth approximately 194 million 150 thousand TL were seized, including:
– 12 residences,
– 6 automobiles,
– 4 motorcycles,
– 2 plots of land,
– Bank accounts, electronic money, and cryptocurrency accounts belonging to the suspects.
The operations were coordinated by the General Directorate of Security’s Department of Combating Cybercrime. They were carried out in provinces including Diyarbakır, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Elazığ, Adana, Batman, Bitlis, Bursa, İzmir, Malatya, Manisa, Tekirdağ, Tokat, Şırnak, Konya, Istanbul, Gaziantep, Muğla, Ordu, Balıkesir, Eskişehir, Denizli, Mardin, and Sakarya.
**Mersin**
In operations led by the Mersin Provincial Police Department’s Cybercrime Branch, targeting illicit gambling operations involving accounts with a total transaction volume of approximately 2 billion TL, 52 suspects were apprehended. These operations extended to Diyarbakır, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Elazığ, Adana, Batman, Bitlis, Bursa, İzmir, Malatya, Manisa, Tekirdağ, Tokat, and Şırnak.
**Ağrı**
The Ağrı Provincial Police Department’s Cybercrime Branch conducted operations in Ağrı, Adana, Konya, Mersin, Istanbul, Antalya, Gaziantep, Malatya, Muğla, and Ordu. The suspects, who used other people’s accounts on illegal betting sites and attempted to launder money through bank accounts and cryptocurrency service providers, were detained. These operations seized 26 suspects with a transaction volume of approximately 19 billion TL.
**Antalya**
Antalya’s Cybercrime Branch, in operations conducted in Istanbul, İzmir, and Manisa, detained 6 suspects who posed as “Investment Advisors” and scammed individuals by promising “Forex Investment/High Profit.” They tricked people into downloading mobile applications showing false gains and demanded charges under the guise of “File Expenses, Tax Fees, etc.” to make unfair profits.
In other operations by the Antalya Provincial Police Department’s Counter-Terrorism Branch, suspects were found to have illegally obtained personal data of various professionals, harassed, and threatened them, and falsely reported various state institutions leading to victims’ distress. These operations were carried out in Istanbul, Bursa, Mersin, Balıkesir, Eskişehir, Denizli, Gaziantep, Mardin, Sakarya, and Tekirdağ, resulting in the arrest of 13 suspects.
As a result of these operations, numerous unregistered firearms and shotguns, large amounts of Turkish Lira, and various digital materials were confiscated. Minister Ali Yerlikaya affirmed, “Our cyber patrols are on duty 24/7. Our fight against cybercrime and criminals will continue with determination.” He also congratulated the heroic police officers, adding, “May God protect you. The prayers of our nation are with you.”
Mersin, Ağrı, and Antalya centered operations involved 27 provinces, targeting violations related to “Law No. 7258 on Organizing Bets and Games of Chance in Football and Other Sports Competitions, Establishing Criminal Organizations, and Money Laundering of Assets Derived from Crime.”