20.05.2026 10:21
In the "PAYMIX-4" operation conducted across 7 provinces centered in Istanbul, a major blow was dealt to the illegal betting and money laundering network. Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek announced that proceedings have been initiated against 61 suspects, 96 movable and immovable assets have been seized, and 657 bank and cryptocurrency accounts have been blocked. Minister Gürlek conveyed the message, "Our fight will continue until we eradicate digital and financial terrorism."
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced that in the simultaneous PAYMIX-4 operation conducted in 7 provinces centered in Istanbul, proceedings were initiated against 61 suspects, 96 assets including 12 vehicles, 30 residences, 54 fields and plots considered to be obtained from crime were seized, and 657 bank and cryptocurrency accounts belonging to the suspects were blocked.
"WE CONTINUE TO COLLAPSE THE DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURES OF CRIME NETWORKS"
In a post on his social media account, Minister Gürlek stated that, in line with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's uncompromising stance and determined will in the fight against illegal betting and crime proceeds, they continue to collapse the financial and digital infrastructures of organized crime networks trying to turn the "cyber homeland" into a money laundering hub.
MAJOR BLOW TO ORGANIZED CRIME NETWORK
Sharing the information that the "PAYMIX-4" operation was carried out centered in Istanbul, Gürlek continued as follows:
"Within the scope of the multi-faceted investigation conducted by our Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command in coordination with our Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the PAYMIX-4 operation was successfully carried out simultaneously in 7 provinces at dawn today. Our judicial units, which tracked the panel accesses of illegal betting sites, salary/remuneration transfers made via crypto assets, and digital traces using cyber intelligence methods, have dealt another major blow to the organized crime network. As a result of the operation, proceedings were initiated against 61 targeted suspects, 96 movable/immovable assets including 12 vehicles, 30 residences, 54 fields and plots considered to be obtained from crime were seized, and 657 bank and cryptocurrency accounts belonging to 61 individuals were blocked."
MESSAGE OF "DETERMINATION" FROM MINISTER GÜRLEK
Noting that the operation was carried out in coordination among the Ministries of Justice, Interior, and Treasury and Finance, and with the cooperation of forensic medicine, cyber intelligence, and MASAK, Gürlek emphasized that the state is determined to dry up the financial channels of criminal organizations.
Gürlek stated, "Our struggle will continue uninterrupted until we eradicate the roots of digital and financial terror."