14.05.2026 10:10
In the operation against illegal gambling, aggravated fraud, bribery, and money laundering, during which Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı was also detained, 221 properties, 120 vehicles, and 3 boats were seized, while trustees were appointed to 3 electronic money payment institutions, 3 jewelry stores, and 1 currency exchange office. Additionally, detention orders were issued for 3 bank managers, 8 police personnel, and 4 lawyers.
200 people were detained in 21 provinces as part of the "illegal gambling and money laundering investigation" conducted by the Adana Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Television commentator and journalist Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı was also detained within the scope of the operation.
In a statement by the Adana Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was reported that 221 properties, 120 vehicles, and 3 boats were seized.
Within the scope of the operation, trustees were appointed for 3 electronic money payment institutions, 3 jewelry stores, and 1 currency exchange office. It was also stated that among those detained were 3 bank managers, 8 police personnel, and 4 lawyers.
CHIEF PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE REVEALS DETAILS OF THE OPERATION
In a written statement regarding the operation, the Adana Chief Public Prosecutor's Office included the following statements:
"Within the scope of the investigation initiated by the Adana Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the Terrorism Financing and Money Laundering Crimes Investigation Bureau, a comprehensive operation was conducted across Turkey targeting crimes of establishing an organization to commit crimes, illegal gambling, qualified fraud using information systems, bribery, and laundering assets derived from crime, based on the extensive investigation carried out by the Adana Provincial Police Department's Cyber Crime Branch for a long time.
When the reports of the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK), technical and physical surveillance studies, bank transactions, digital material examinations, crypto asset analyses, HTS records, and other evidence were evaluated together; it was determined that the suspects acted as an organized criminal organization and laundered criminal proceeds obtained from illegal gambling and qualified fraud activities carried out through phishing methods by circulating them through electronic money institutions, bank accounts, virtual POS systems, currency exchange offices, jewelry stores, shell companies, and crypto asset systems.
Within the scope of the investigation, it was determined that the criminal organization;
- established private software infrastructures and panel systems,
- provided financial infrastructure to illegal gambling sites,
- conducted money transfer organizations through electronic money institutions and virtual POS systems,
- circulated criminal proceeds within a multi-layered financial system,
- actively used crypto asset systems,
- performed cash conversion and layering operations through jewelry stores and currency exchange offices.
SUSPICIOUS MONEY MOVEMENT OF 2 BILLION DOLLARS
In the financial examinations within the scope of MASAK analyses and the investigation file, suspicious money movements and laundering activities at levels of approximately 100 billion Turkish Lira and approximately 2 billion US Dollars were detected, and the organization was assessed as a professional financial crime organization operating on a national and international scale.
Within the scope of the investigation, strong evidence was also obtained that middle and senior managers working in some private banks took part in the layering operations of crime-derived proceeds within the banking system and helped render ineffective the blocking and security processes regarding suspicious money movements.
Furthermore, findings were made that some police personnel, in exchange for bribes, conducted inquiries regarding arrest, detention, and search warrants issued by judicial authorities against suspects and obtained information regarding operational processes.
AMONG THEM ARE BANK MANAGERS, POLICE PERSONNEL, AND LAWYERS
In this context, on 14/05/2026, a simultaneous operation was carried out at 228 separate addresses in 21 provinces; procedures were initiated for the capture of 198 suspects, and detention decisions were made for 3 bank managers, 8 police personnel, and 4 lawyers.
3 ELECTRONIC PAYMENT INSTITUTIONS, 3 JEWELRY STORES, AND CURRENCY EXCHANGE OFFICE SEIZED
Additionally, within the scope of the investigation; trustee and seizure measures were applied to 3 electronic money/payment institutions, 3 jewelry stores operating in Adana province, and 1 currency exchange office, in line with court decisions.
HERE ARE THE SEIZED ASSETS
Seizure measures were applied to 221 properties, 120 vehicles, and 3 boats, assessed to belong to suspects and companies; and an access restriction decision was implemented for a total of 8,500 websites with illegal gambling and betting content, assessed to have been used for circulating proceeds derived from crime within the financial system.
Our Adana Chief Public Prosecutor's Office continues its fight against organized criminal organizations, illegal gambling structures, financial crimes, and the laundering of assets derived from crime with determination; the investigation is ongoing comprehensively in all aspects." it was stated.