Search underway for 18 tons of Gülenist gold in Marmaris

Tucked away on the southwestern tip of Turkey and overlooking the Aegean Sea, Angel's Peninsula hotel was among the few destinations in the regions for "halal" tourists for a long time. Nowadays, it is more famous for the secret it allegedly harbors rather than for being a vacation resort. Some 18 tons of gold is reportedly buried in the vast stretch in front of the hotel. After trustees were appointed to run the hotel following an investigation into links of its owners to the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ), authorities started excavations in the area to put an end to rumors and to find out if the allegations are true. After all, the Koza-İpek Group run by the family of prominent tycoon Akın İpek - who currently remains at large - also owns gold mines and it is believed the gold might have been buried in the hotel plot as a precaution against seizure by the state.

Amid tight security measures, a crew from Turkish Coal Enterprises (TKİ), a state-run agency running several coal mines, are excavating in the area sealed off to onlookers. Access by boat to the land on the shore was also sealed off during the secretive search. Authorities did not release any statement about whether the search is related to the rumored gold or evidence implicating former owners with FETÖ. FETÖ, which was last implicated in the July 15 coup attempt, is known for its secrecy. In dozens of operations against the cult members, secret stashes of documents and other materials linking them to the cult was found hidden or destroyed.

Akın İpek has been accused of financing Gülenists with his immense wealth and has been a fierce advocate of the cult. Authorities issued an arrest warrant for İpek last year but he managed to flee abroad before his capture.