03.11.2026 14:10
Former AK Party MP Şamil Tayyar announced that a former EPDK engineer he met in Tarsus won a $2 million reward by reporting fuel smugglers; the professional informant's words, 'Smuggling is over, business is slow,' drew attention.
Former AK Party MP Şamil Tayyar shared the extraordinary story of a former public official he met near Tarsus who makes a living by reporting fuel smugglers. According to what Tayyar recounted, the informant, who professionally engages in "bounty hunting," has so far earned about 2 million dollars in rewards for 8 reports that were concluded.
FROM EPDK ENGINEERING TO PROFESSIONAL INFORMANT
In a post on his social media account, Şamil Tayyar described the profile of the person he met, stating that the individual had worked as an engineer at the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK) for years before leaving. It was reported that the former engineer, who uses his professional experience to detect fuel smuggling, knows by heart the public prosecutors, KOM police officers, and customs inspectors who closely follow the process.
"THERE HAS BEEN NO SMUGGLING FOR 4-5 YEARS, BUSINESS IS SLOW"
Tayyar, who also included the informant's assessments regarding the fuel market—the informant has made 21 reports to date, 8 of which were concluded—stated that smuggling has decreased significantly in recent years. Şamil Tayyar, relaying the informant's words, "When costs rise and the tax difference falls, there has not been much smuggling for 4-5 years. The smuggler robs the state; now the conditions are not suitable. Bro, business is slow now, we're hungry, so to speak," said that although he was saddened that the informant's business was slow, he was pleased that smuggling had been prevented.
Here is that post by Şamil Tayyar;
A citizen is out and about.
Today, near Tarsus, I met the most interesting character of my life.
At first I thought he was "joking," but when I probed, I concluded that he was not "making it up."
The man is a professional informant, a kind of bounty hunter.
An engineer who worked at EPDK for years and then left; reporting fuel smugglers has become his livelihood.
He has made 21 reports, 8 of which were concluded, and has so far earned about 2 million dollars in "rewards."
Because he has worked closely with the relevant prosecutors, KOM police officers, and customs inspectors, he knows them by heart.
So how are things now?
He, too, has suffered from the rise in fuel prices:
"Bro, business is slow now; we're hungry, so to speak. When costs rise and the tax difference falls, there has not been much smuggling for 4/5 years. The smuggler robs the state; now the conditions are not suitable."
The informant (A.A.) is unhappy that smuggling has decreased, but I was happy about the last sentence.
From hearing that smugglers are not as comfortable as they used to be.
By the way, he did not make a "fund joke," but he said, "I am following your struggle."
Thanks.