01.05.2026 04:01
Following President Erdogan's clear message that "We will eradicate the swamp of online betting," operations have intensified, with the latest being simultaneous raids across 13 provinces centered in Nigde. 34 suspects were apprehended, with a transaction volume of 9 billion TL identified. 31 of the suspects were arrested, while 3 were released under judicial supervision.
Following President Erdoğan's message on combating illegal betting, another operation was conducted. A major operation was carried out across 13 provinces centered in Niğde.
9 BILLION TL TRANSACTION VOLUME
A heavy blow was dealt to the criminal organization found to have managed approximately 9 billion TL in transaction volume through illegal betting. Of the 34 suspects detained in the operation, 31 were arrested by the court and sent to prison.
STATEMENT FROM THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR
In a statement from the Ministry of Interior regarding the issue, the following expressions were included: "In operations organized by our Police targeting the crime of 'Illegal Betting' across 13 provinces centered in Niğde; 34 suspects were caught, with approximately 9 billion TL in transaction volume detected.
Of the suspects; 31 were arrested. Judicial control provisions were applied to 3. Coordinated by the General Directorate of Security's Department of Combating Cyber Crimes; in studies conducted on suspects found to have purchased illegal betting site infrastructure from a company; numerous digital materials (data) and elements of crime considered to be associated with 26 illegal betting and gambling sites were seized.
SIMULTANEOUS OPERATION IN 13 PROVINCES
Coordinated by the Niğde Chief Public Prosecutor's Office; as a result of studies carried out for approximately 6 months targeting the crimes of opposing Law No. 7258, establishing an organization to commit crimes, laundering property values derived from crime; simultaneous operations were organized by the Niğde Provincial Police Department Cyber Crimes Branch Directorate in Adana, Eskişehir, Gaziantep, Istanbul, Izmir, Malatya, Mardin, Samsun, Sanliurfa, Trabzon, Sirnak and Van, centered in Niğde.
As a result of the operations; property belonging to the suspects, consisting of 2,623 bank and crypto asset accounts, 4 companies and shares of these companies, 1 gas station, 4 workplaces, 5 plots of land, 15 vehicles, valued at approximately 1 billion 240 million TL, was confiscated.
We do not tolerate criminal networks profiting unfairly through illegal betting; we continue our struggle against crime and criminals uninterruptedly. We congratulate our Heroic Police, our Department, our Niğde Provincial Police Department, our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, and those who contributed."