Akın Gürlek Announces: Operation in 81 Provinces, 841 Detained

Turkey has launched a sweeping operation targeting organized crime, resulting in the detention of 841 suspects across all 81 provinces. Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced the crackdown, emphasizing the government's commitment to combating criminal organizations.

The operation, conducted in coordination with police and gendarmerie units, was initiated following a directive sent to Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices in 175 High Criminal Courts. This directive focused on "Combating Organized Crime," prompting swift action from prosecutors' offices nationwide.

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We will not allow any structure that attempts to disturb the peace of our cities, involve our youth in crime, or intimidate our tradesmen with threats and extortion.

According to the Ministry of Justice, 35 operations were carried out in 24 provinces under the coordination of 31 Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices, focusing on the crime of establishing an organization to commit crimes, as defined by Article 220 of the Turkish Penal Code. These operations led to legal proceedings against 711 suspects.

Additionally, 13 operations were conducted in 10 provinces, coordinated by 10 Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices, targeting similar offenses not strictly classified as organized crime. These resulted in legal actions against 130 suspects. Minister Gürlek asserted that the scale of the operation underscores the state's unwavering determination against criminal groups, the judiciary's rapid response, the effectiveness of law enforcement in the field, and the strong coordination among institutions. He vowed to continue targeting all elements of these organizations, from their leadership and financial networks to their enforcers and digital propaganda channels, stating, "We will not allow any structure that attempts to disturb the peace of our cities, involve our youth in crime, or intimidate our tradesmen with threats and extortion."

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We will continue to target all elements of these criminal organizations, from their leaders to their financial networks, their enforcers, and their digital propaganda channels.