10.10.2026 14:00
In the investigation conducted by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the "Vanlı Kara Haydar" criminal organization, cash in the amount of 1 billion 541 million TL was seized during a raid on an address in Antalya. Together with the foreign currencies found in the operations in Istanbul, the nominal total of the seized money reached approximately 2.5 billion TL. While the suspicion that some of the foreign currencies may be counterfeit is being investigated, 8 suspects were arrested.
Within the scope of the investigation conducted by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the crime of laundering assets derived from crime, operations were carried out against a structure assessed to be led by Mehmet Fatih Tançalan, known to the public by the nickname “Kara Haydar of Van.”
During a search carried out at a business in Antalya mentioned in the statement of Hakkı Doğan, who was arrested within the scope of the investigation, cash amounting to 1 billion 541 million 395 thousand TL was seized. It was learned that examinations are ongoing to determine the source, authenticity, and connection to the crime of the seized money.
A TOTAL OF 2 BILLION 475 MILLION TL IN CASH WAS SEIZED
In previous operations carried out by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office within the scope of the investigation, large amounts of cash had also been found. In searches conducted in two automobiles in Istanbul on September 26, 2026, 16 million 440 thousand euros and 700 thousand US dollars were seized, and it was reported that the money was worth approximately 934 million TL at the exchange rate on that date.
With the money amounting to 1 billion 541 million 395 thousand TL found in Antalya in the latest operation, the nominal total of the money seized within the scope of the investigation, calculated based on the announced TL values, rose to 2 billion 475 million 395 thousand TL. Thus, the total amount of seized cash approached approximately 2.5 billion TL.
IS SOME OF THE SEIZED FOREIGN CURRENCY COUNTERFEIT?
A striking new detail also emerged regarding the large amount of foreign currency seized within the scope of the investigation. It was stated that some of the money held by the suspects was counterfeit dollars and euros.
It was noted that examinations are ongoing to determine the amount of the banknotes in question and the transactions in which they may have been used. The presence of counterfeit banknotes among the seized foreign currency is also significant in terms of the allegations that the suspects obtained money from people by showing large amounts of cash.
THEY COLLECTED MONEY BY SHOWING LARGE AMOUNTS OF FOREIGN CURRENCY
It was learned that the investigation was initiated after a complaint by a person who applied to the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. The complainant said that money of unknown origin was brought into the country through illegal methods and transferred within the country.
The complainant also stated that during video calls, Mehmet Fatih Tançalan showed him large amounts of cash, gained his trust through this method, and defrauded him by taking money from him.
Hakkı Doğan, for whom an arrest warrant was issued within the scope of the investigation, was caught and taken into custody. In his statement, Doğan claimed that he was involved in activities to transfer within the country money that Tançalan claimed was brought from abroad through illegal methods, that he created the impression of making money transfers by showing large amounts of foreign currency to various people, and that he took money from people through this method.
MILLIONS OF EUROS AND DOLLARS HAD BEEN FOUND IN TWO AUTOMOBILES
After Hakkı Doğan agreed to show the places where the money was hidden, searches were conducted in two vehicles in Istanbul on September 26, 2026. During the searches, a large amount of euros and US dollars, along with two vehicles believed to have been used in the crime, were seized.
After his custody procedures, Hakkı Doğan, who was sent to the Criminal Judgeship of Peace with a request for his arrest, was arrested. In line with the suspect's statement and new findings obtained, the investigation was expanded.
SIMULTANEOUS OPERATION IN 5 PROVINCES: 10 SUSPECTS CAPTURED
A simultaneous operation centered in Ankara was carried out in 5 provinces on October 6, 2026, targeting the criminal organization believed to be led by Mehmet Fatih Tançalan. Within the scope of the operation, 10 suspects were captured, and with the expansion of the investigation, the money movements and possible relationships of people assessed to be in Tançalan's circle were also taken under examination.
Within the scope of the investigation, arrest decisions were issued on October 9, 2026, for suspects İzzet Karataş, Oğuzhan İkiz, Zeynalabedin Tançalan, Ferhat Polat, Nilgün Oya, Ramazan Tuğay, Cemal Kuru, and Ozan Demirel, who were sent to the Criminal Judgeship of Peace.
For suspect Fatmanur Tançalan, it was decided to apply judicial control measures. It was noted that examinations are ongoing regarding other suspects, including Çağla Öz Tançalan, Muhammet Sait Tançalan, and Emine Çakaner, within the scope of the investigation. Together with Hakkı Doğan, who was arrested earlier, the number of suspects arrested within the scope of the investigation rose to 9.
MONEY FLOW AND NEW VICTIMS ARE BEING INVESTIGATED
In the investigation conducted by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the source of the large amounts of seized cash, the methods by which it was obtained, its authenticity, and the suspects' financial relationships are being investigated.
The examinations to be carried out to determine the total amount of the foreign currency stated to be counterfeit are also important for the investigation. On the other hand, work continues to determine whether the suspects victimized other people through similar methods.
The investigation is being continued by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in all its aspects.