Prosecutors issued arrest warrants for 125 people yesterday in an operation against a gang involved in the production and sale of fake gold. Some 91 suspects were detained in operations in 11 cities. The suspects, who are charged with fraud, are accused selling fake gold jewelry and genuine gold jewelry that were modified to sell at much higher prices.
Security officials said the fake jewelry had copper content covered with gold plating and TL 1.5 million of it was sold every month to jewelers. They also forged logos of famous jewelry brands on the fakes.
The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in Istanbul which launched the operations, said in a statement that the gang was investigated upon public complaints about increasing cases of fake jewelry. The gang was based in Istanbul and sent jewelry to other cities through its members. Five workshops the gang used to produce the fake or cheap jewelry have been shut down.