07.11.2026 14:02
A simultaneous operation was carried out in 39 provinces based in Istanbul against 194 suspects identified through the AI-supported 'Avcı' program, who are alleged to have organized illegal betting and gambling via Telegram. In the investigation, in which a high volume of financial transactions was identified in the MASAK report, 121 of the 169 suspects taken into custody were arrested, 45 were released under judicial control, and 3 were released by the prosecutor's office.
Simultaneous operations were carried out in 39 provinces, centered in Istanbul, against 194 suspects identified through an artificial intelligence-supported program named 'Avcı' (Hunter) on the virtual media platform Telegram, where they are alleged to have organized illegal betting and gambling. Of the 169 suspects taken into custody, 121 were arrested, 45 were released under judicial control, and 3 were released by the prosecutor's office.
TELEGRAM GROUPS DETECTED WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Within the scope of an investigation conducted by the Organized Crimes Investigation Bureau of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to prevent crimes committed in the digital environment and increase effectiveness in the fight against crime, numerous groups and suspects carrying out illegal betting and gambling activities on the virtual media platform Telegram were identified using an artificial intelligence-supported program named 'Avcı' (Hunter).
As a result of the MASAK report and analyses of the suspects' financial transactions, it was determined that there was a high volume of financial transactions.
SIMULTANEOUS OPERATION IN 39 PROVINCES
In this context, a simultaneous operation was carried out in 39 provinces, centered in Istanbul, to capture 194 suspects. As part of the operation, searches and seizures were conducted at the homes and workplaces of the suspects in Adana, Adıyaman, Ankara, Antalya, Aydın, Balıkesir, Batman, Bingöl, Bursa, Çanakkale, Denizli, Diyarbakır, Düzce, Edirne, Elazığ, Erzincan, Gaziantep, Hatay, İzmir, Karabük, Kayseri, Kırıkkale, Kocaeli, Konya, Malatya, Mardin, Mersin, Muş, Osmaniye, Sakarya, Samsun, Sivas, Şanlıurfa, Şırnak, Tekirdağ, Van, Yalova, and Zonguldak.
121 SUSPECTS ARRESTED
Of the 169 suspects taken into custody, 121 were arrested, 45 were released under judicial control, and 3 were released by the prosecutor's office.