Turkish authorities detain 106 suspects, including six children already subject to judicial proceedings, in simultaneous operations targeting four criminal organizations across 11 provinces, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office announced on Monday.
The "Streets Are Safe” operations are conducted under an investigation by the Organized Crime Investigation Bureau of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, targeting what authorities describe as new-generation criminal organizations and criminal ecosystems.
The operations are carried out simultaneously on Sept. 14 in Istanbul and 10 other provinces across Türkiye, such as Ankara, Izmir, Kocaeli, Mersin, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Sakarya, Adana, Bolu and Tekirdağ.
Authorities detained 74 suspects linked to the Volkan Reçber criminal organization, 18 linked to the Daltons, 12 linked to the Şapkalılar and two linked to the Gündoğmuşlar, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Searches of the suspects’ residences uncovered one automatic pistol, three unlicensed pistols, a hunting rifle, two blank-firing pistols and 207 rounds of ammunition.
Authorities also seized approximately 10 grams (0.35 ounces) of narcotics and 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of cannabis, as well as TL 313,600 ($7,065), $10,050 and 19,205 euros in cash.
In a separate operation, Istanbul police detained 155 suspects linked to 12 new-generation organized crime groups in simultaneous raids across 20 provinces.
The operation, coordinated by Istanbul, Bakırköy, Gaziosmanpaşa and Istanbul Anatolian chief public prosecutor’s offices, targeted armed criminal organizations involved in offenses including firing at businesses from motorcycles, armed robbery, threats and deliberately endangering public safety. Some of the groups’ leaders are based abroad and are subject to Red Notices.
Police identified the suspects as part of an investigation aimed at exposing the organizations and dismantling their activities. Searches of addresses linked to the suspects uncovered an unlicensed automatic pistol, four pistols, 207 rounds of ammunition, two hunting rifles, 122 grams (4.3 ounces) of drugs and a large amount of money believed to have been obtained through criminal activities.