22.06.2026 09:40
Following President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's instruction to "end illegal betting," security forces launched a major operation across 7 provinces centered on Mardin. A network facilitating illegal betting sites and committing fraud through fake advertisements was dismantled, while 49 suspects, involved in a financial volume totaling 10.3 billion TL, were detained. Justice Minister Akın Gürlek stated, "We are not giving criminal networks any breathing room."
Clean-up operations launched across Turkey as part of the fight against illegal betting and qualified fraud continue unabated. Following President Erdogan's clear instructions to eradicate illegal betting, a historic operation was carried out under the coordination of the Mardin Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.
SIMULTANEOUS RAIDS IN 7 PROVINCES: 49 DETAINEES
The button was pressed after long-term technical and physical surveillance by the teams of the Mardin Provincial Police Department's Cyber Crime Branch. A simultaneous operation was conducted this morning in 7 provinces against the network, which was identified as mediating money transfers through illegal betting sites and victimizing citizens with fake online advertisements. During the raids, 49 suspects, believed to be members of the network, were caught red-handed and taken into custody.
MASSIVE FINANCIAL VOLUME OF 10 BILLION LIRAS
In the comprehensive investigation supported by MASAK, the financial scale reached by the network was staggering. The figures revealed by cyber police and financial experts following their examinations are as follows:
- Total number of transactions carried out: 1,442,176
- Total financial volume reached: 10,394,834,144 TL
JUSTICE MINISTER GÜRLEK'S MESSAGE OF 'DETERMINATION'
After the major operation, Justice Minister Akın Gürlek made a statement on his official social media account, emphasizing inter-institutional coordination and determination in the fight against crime and criminals. Gürlek's statement included the following expressions:
"Under the leadership of our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan; we continue our fight against illegal betting, qualified fraud, and the laundering of proceeds from crime with determination, and we will not allow any criminal network that covets our citizens' hard work, labor, and dreams to breathe!"
"OUR FIGHT WILL CONTINUE WITHOUT INTERRUPTION"
Minister Gürlek thanked the Mardin Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the Mardin Provincial Police Department, MASAK officials, and law enforcement forces for their efforts in the operation, and stated that the process is being carried out in full coordination with the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Treasury and Finance. Minister Gürlek signaled that the operations would continue, saying, "We will never allow fraud networks targeting our nation's labor and hard work to pass. Our fight to track crime proceeds and bring perpetrators to justice will continue without interruption." The procedures for the 49 detained suspects at the police station continue.