08.05.2026 13:05
An operation was carried out against a criminal organization in Bursa that used women to encourage farmers to gamble through coffeehouse-looking casinos, indebted them, and seized their assets; while 14 suspects were caught, it was revealed that the gang assaulted a child with special needs.
In the Yenişehir district of Bursa, 14 suspects were caught in an operation against a criminal organization operating in coffeehouse-looking gambling dens. It was determined that the gang specifically targeted farmers, dragging them into gambling, indebting them with high interest, and seizing their assets.
THEY USED WOMEN TO ENCOURAGE GAMBLING
Teams from the Provincial Police Department's Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Branch, within the scope of work coordinated by the Yenişehir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, began monitoring the organization. During approximately 3 months of technical and physical surveillance, it was discovered that the suspects were running gambling operations in places disguised as coffeehouses. It was revealed that the suspects used women seated at gambling tables to encourage citizens to play, and specifically targeted local farmers, causing them to lose large amounts of money.
THEY INDEBTED AND MADE THEM SIGN PROMISSORY NOTES
It was determined that the gang gave money at high interest to people who lost in gambling and forced victims to sign promissory notes. It was also determined that those who could not pay their debts were detained in offices, threatened with death, and beaten.
VIOLENCE AGAINST A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
It was revealed that the suspects seized the homes, lands, and assets of the people they oppressed, and also beat the child with special needs of a victim who could not pay his debt. It was also stated that the gang, to avoid drawing attention, transferred the forcibly obtained deeds to the names of organization members and moved the obtained money to different accounts.
THEY WERE CAUGHT IN A SIMULTANEOUS OPERATION
Once it was determined that the suspects, acting on the orders of the criminal organization's leader, exerted systematic pressure on victims, teams took action on May 5. With the support of Special Operations police, simultaneous operations were carried out at the identified addresses. During the operation, 6 suspects named B.B., M.T., V.E., S.B., H.B., and B.A. were caught, and the number of detentions later rose to 14. It was reported that one of the suspects was caught in Amasya, where he was serving his military duty, and brought to Bursa.
WEAPONS AND PROMISSORY NOTES SEIZED
In searches conducted at the suspects' addresses, 1 unlicensed pistol, 8 rounds of ammunition, 2 pump-action shotguns, numerous promissory notes said to have been forcibly signed by victims, and 2 notebooks containing debt records were seized.
THEY WILL BE SENT TO COURT
The detained suspects will be sent to the Yenişehir Courthouse after their procedures at the police station.