18.11.2025 11:44
A detention order has been issued for 23 suspects identified as having caused a public loss of 100 billion lira by abusing foreign exchange incentives in Istanbul, and 21 suspects have been apprehended. It has been determined that company officials used false and misleading documents in import and export transactions, and delivered some items declared as gold plates by exchanging them for rice plates or imitation gold.
As part of the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was determined that suspects, who abused foreign currency incentives in violation of the legislation in an organized manner, established new companies through second and third parties to carry out quota and off-regulation transactions in gold and precious metal trade.
Despite tons of gold and silver being imported under the 'Inward Processing Regime' by the companies associated with the suspects between 2023 and 2024, it was found that a significant portion of this gold and silver was exported abroad in violation of the regime's provisions.
100 BILLION TL PUBLIC LOSS
Furthermore, it was understood that the company officials, who were found to be conducting illegal activities in an organized manner, used false and misleading documents in import and export transactions, delivered some items declared as gold plates by replacing them with brass plates or imitation gold, thus gaining unjust profits and causing approximately 100 billion lira in public loss based on the current gold rate.
21 SUSPECTS IN CUSTODY
In the investigation, simultaneous detention orders were issued for a total of 23 suspects for crimes including 'Establishing an Organization to Commit Crimes', 'Being a Member of a Criminal Organization', 'Qualified Fraud to the Detriment of Public Institutions and Organizations', 'Violation of the Law No. 1211 of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey and its regulations', 'Violation of the Law No. 4749 on the Regulation of Public Financing and Debt Management', and 'Violation of the Law No. 1567 on the Protection of the Value of Turkish Currency'.
In the operations carried out, 21 suspects were detained, while efforts to capture 2 suspects are ongoing.