Coordinated illegal betting operation by Ankara, Istanbul, and Edirne chief prosecutors: 150 detained, 21.3 billion TL in suspicious transactions

A total of 150 suspects were detained in three simultaneous operations coordinated by the Chief Public Prosecutors of Ankara, Istanbul, and Edirne; efforts continue to apprehend 41 suspects.

The illegal betting investigation conducted by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office covered 18 provinces centered in Ankara. In the operation targeting 79 suspects and 23 companies, 55 suspects were detained and 24 suspects remain at large. The investigation examined structures providing software and call center services as well as the transfer of criminal proceeds through companies and cryptocurrencies. According to the MASAK report, the volume of suspicious transactions was identified as 21 billion 319 million TL. Receivership was imposed on 23 companies.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's investigation into next-generation organized crime covered 30 provinces centered in Istanbul. In the operation against a structure determined to have directed individuals toward criminal activities through social media and messaging groups, 100 individuals were targeted; 87 individuals were detained, including 34 children in judicial proceedings, and 13 individuals remain at large.

The Edirne Chief Public Prosecutor's investigation covered 12 suspects across 5 provinces centered in Edirne. Among suspects with a total transaction volume of 1 billion TL in bank accounts identified over the past month, 8 were detained and 4 remain at large.

Sabah newspaper reported the development.