14.11.2026 16:50
In an operation organized in Ankara against the laundering of criminal proceeds obtained from drug trafficking, 10 suspects were taken into custody. In the investigation into the structure publicly known as the "Çobanlar Group," assets worth 1 billion 550 million lira were seized. The total transaction volume of companies linked to the suspects was determined to exceed 10.3 billion lira.
Under the coordination of the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, a large-scale operation targeting the laundering of criminal proceeds from drug trafficking was carried out by teams from the Ankara Provincial Police Department's Anti-Narcotic Crimes Branch Directorate.
In line with the report prepared by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK), field investigations and financial analyses, significant findings were reached regarding the structure publicly known as the "Çobanlar Group."
It was assessed that the suspects laundered revenues believed to have been obtained from drug trafficking through company activities, various financial transactions and asset acquisitions.
ASSETS WORTH 1 BILLION 550 MILLION LIRA SEIZED
Within the scope of the investigation, the suspects' bank accounts and assets were examined. As a result of the examinations, assets with a total value of 1 billion 550 million lira were seized.
The distribution of the seized assets is as follows:
- 18 vehicles: 250 million lira
- 12 real estate properties: 300 million lira
- 4 entertainment centers: 320 million lira
- 1 hotel: 660 million lira
- 1 office: 20 million lira
TRANSACTION VOLUME OF THE COMPANIES EXCEEDED 10.3 BILLION LIRA
The financial movements of companies linked to the suspects and the hotels and entertainment centers affiliated with these companies were also examined.
In the analyses, it was determined that the total transaction volume of the companies in question was 10 billion 308 million 821 thousand 634 lira and 25 kuruş.
SIMULTANEOUS RAIDS ON 12 ADDRESSES
Within the scope of the investigation, simultaneous operations were carried out at a total of 12 addresses, consisting of 6 residences and 6 workplaces belonging to 7 suspects.
During searches at the addresses, millions of lira in cash, gold, promissory notes and luxury watches were seized.
MILLIONS OF LIRA, KILOGRAMS OF GOLD AND LUXURY WATCHES SEIZED
The money and valuables seized in the operation were listed as follows:
- 12 million 726 thousand 835 lira in cash
- 316 promissory notes worth 79 million 320 thousand lira
- 2 kilograms 130 grams of gold
- 317 quarter gold coins
- 9 full gold coins
- 8 bracelets
- 3 gremse gold coins
- 38 thousand 320 dollars
- 3 thousand 790 euros
- 10 luxury watches
NUMBER OF DETAINEES RISES TO 10
In the first stage of the operation, 6 of the 7 suspects against whom proceedings were initiated were caught and taken into custody.
As 4 more suspects were taken into custody in the later stages of the investigation, the total number of detainees rose to 10.
It was reported that efforts continue to capture 1 suspect who is at large.