16.10.2026 14:32
M.H.A., the fugitive leader of a criminal network alleged to have defrauded hundreds of people in Germany and pulled off a scam of approximately 4 million dollars, was caught in Istanbul while preparing to undergo plastic surgery with a fake identity. It was determined that the suspect, who is assessed to have been trying to erase his traces by changing his face, planned to continue fraud activities by converting the houses he rented in Maltepe into a call center.
The leader of a criminal network determined to have defrauded hundreds of people in Germany and pulled off a scam of approximately 4 million dollars, M.H.A., was caught in Istanbul in an operation conducted by police teams. It was determined that the suspect, who had a finalized prison sentence, was preparing to undergo cosmetic surgery using a fake identity. Police detained 7 more people who acted together with the fugitive suspect.
CAUGHT WHILE PREPARING TO CHANGE HIS FACE
According to a Habertürk report, teams from the Istanbul Police Department Public Order Branch Directorate Robbery Bureau Office and the Kağıthane District Police Department launched an investigation after receiving information that M.H.A., who was involved in fraud activities in Germany, was in Turkey.
In investigations, it was determined that the suspect defrauded hundreds of people in Germany and obtained approximately 4 million dollars in criminal proceeds, and that there was a finalized prison sentence against him.
Teams that put the fugitive suspect's movements under surveillance determined that he was preparing to undergo cosmetic surgery with a fake identity. Police took action and caught and detained M.H.A. during the operation.
THEY TURNED HOUSES INTO CALL CENTERS
Teams that deepened the investigation also uncovered M.H.A.'s connections in Turkey. It was determined that the suspect, acting together with 7 people, rented many houses in Istanbul's Maltepe district.
It was determined that the rented houses were converted into call centers to be used in fraud activities, and that the network planned to continue its activities through Turkey by targeting people in Germany.
AN ARSENAL CAME OUT OF THE HOUSES
During raids by police teams on addresses in Maltepe, a large number of handguns, long-barreled automatic weapons, drugs, and mobile phones assessed to be used in fraud activities were seized.
Within the scope of the operation, 7 more suspects linked to M.H.A. were caught. A total of 8 people taken into custody were referred to court after their procedures at the police station were completed.