Turkey Busts Organized Crime Rings Linked to Football Fan Groups

Turkey's Interior Minister, Akın Gürlek, announced significant operations targeting two organized crime syndicates operating within football fan groups in Istanbul and Izmir. The minister stated that the country will not tolerate criminal gangs that disrupt public order and threaten security.

In Istanbul, an organized theft ring was dismantled, primarily targeting foreign tourists in crowded areas like trams and pedestrian crossings using a "cornering and screening" method. This group, consisting mostly of foreign nationals, is suspected of committing 25 separate theft incidents, generating approximately 400,000 Turkish Lira daily. A coordinated operation involving 35 addresses in Istanbul led to the arrest of 32 suspects.

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We are continuing our struggle with determination against organized structures that disrupt the peace of our cities, threaten the security of our citizens and guests visiting our country, and turn violence and crime into a source of profit.

Simultaneously, in Izmir, two organized crime structures operating under the "Forza" and "Yalı" fan groups were exposed. These groups have been linked to 8 violent incidents over an eight-month period, following the fatal shooting of Emircan Övüç on September 19, 2025. A large-scale operation across four provinces, targeting 39 addresses, resulted in the apprehension of 28 suspects, including group leaders. Efforts are ongoing to capture four fugitives.

Minister Gürlek emphasized the government's firm stance against criminal organizations that profit from violence and crime. "No one can consider Istanbul's tourism mobility as a safe area for theft, nor fan identity and sports stands as safe areas for armed confrontations," he stated. He affirmed that the ministry and security forces will continue to pursue the leaders, members, and financial assets of these criminal groups with strong coordination.

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No one can consider Istanbul's tourism mobility as a safe area for theft, nor fan identity and sports stands as safe areas for armed confrontations.