23.06.2026 11:21
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced that a network causing losses to the state through fake invoices and fictitious exports was dismantled in a major fuel operation centered in Istanbul across 9 provinces. As part of the operation, which was also conducted at sea, 6 companies were seized, receivers were appointed for 10 companies, and legal proceedings were initiated against 27 suspects.
Within the scope of the major investigation coordinated by the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, a heavy blow was dealt to an organized crime network that evaded taxes in the fuel sector through fake invoices and fictitious exports. The official statement on the matter came from Justice Minister Akın Gürlek.
MASSIVE INTER-INSTITUTIONAL COORDINATION
In his statement on his social media account, Minister Gürlek emphasized that the operation was conducted decisively under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Drawing attention to the studies carried out in coordination with the Ministries of Interior, Treasury and Finance, Trade, and Energy and Natural Resources, Gürlek noted that the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command, the Tax Inspection Board, MASAK, the General Directorate of Customs Enforcement, EPDK, and the TMSF worked in full coordination.
ANNUAL 400 THOUSAND TON FRAUD SCHEME
According to the details of the investigation, it was determined that an organized company structure operating in the fuel sector caused a major tax loss to the state. The network was found to import approximately 350-400 thousand tons of LPG annually. It was revealed that the Special Consumption Tax (SCT) and Value Added Tax (VAT) liabilities arising from this massive import were attempted to be nullified through fake invoice organizations and fictitious export transactions.
SIMULTANEOUS RAIDS IN 9 PROVINCES: ACTIONS TAKEN AGAINST 27 SUSPECTS
This morning, the button was pressed for an operation targeting the detected multi-billion lira fraud scheme. The addresses of the simultaneous raids carried out within the scope of the investigation were listed as follows: Istanbul (Center), Ankara, Bursa, Kırıkkale, Kırşehir, Mardin, Konya, Hatay, Niğde.
As a result of the operation, 6 companies at the center of illegal activities were seized, while trustees were appointed to 10 companies considered to be part of the criminal network. Legal proceedings were initiated against 27 suspects found to be connected to the network.
"NO TOLERANCE FOR THOSE TARGETING PUBLIC RESOURCES"
Minister Gürlek underlined that there will be no compromise against criminal structures targeting the economic order and shared the message of determination regarding the operation with the following words:
"We will not tolerate any organized structure targeting the tax security, economic order, and public resources of our state. We will follow the trail of income obtained from crime and will decisively carry out legal processes against structures that cause public harm through fake invoice and fictitious export mechanisms."
At the end of his statement, Minister Gürlek expressed his thanks to the prosecutor's office conducting the investigation meticulously, the gendarmerie teams who successfully carried out the operation, and the MASAK, EPDK, TMSF, and Customs officials who took part in every stage of the process.