19.11.2025 05:08
In an operation related to the laundering of criminal proceeds obtained from illegal betting in 9 provinces centered around Mersin, 36 people, including 4 referees, were detained. The prosecutor's office stated that the suspects attempted to conceal the criminal proceeds through cold wallets belonging to cryptocurrency accounts.
An operation related to the laundering of criminal proceeds obtained from illegal betting in 9 provinces centered in Mersin resulted in the detention of 36 suspects, including 4 referees. According to the statement from the Mersin Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, investigations into the accounts of a logistics company owner and his relatives revealed that cold wallets belonging to cryptocurrency accounts were used to cover up the traces of the criminal proceeds obtained from illegal betting.
801 ACCOUNTS EXAMINED
It was determined that the suspects conducted unregistered money transactions through a jeweler operating in Mersin, as well as in Iran, Iraq, and Dubai, using a system known as "hawala," and later sent approximately 3 billion 700 million lira to companies abroad.
As part of the investigation, the accounts of 801 individuals who sent money to those playing illegal bets were examined.
1 MILLION 300 THOUSAND LIRA
As a result of the examination, it was found that there was an inflow of 1 million 300 thousand lira to the referees who officiated matches in close dates to those who were investigated for illegal betting and money laundering, referred to as "card players."
Additionally, an investigation was initiated against 4 referees, who were determined to have a total transaction volume of 85 million 919 thousand 678 lira between the years 2020-2025, for the crimes of "Abuse of Duty and Violation of Law No. 6222."
36 SUSPECTS DETAINED
In the operation carried out in 9 provinces centered in Mersin, 36 suspects, including 4 referees, were detained by gendarmerie teams. Furthermore, the funds in the accounts of the companies and their owners involved in the investigation, movable and immovable properties, and 1 million 441 thousand euros, 630 thousand dollars, 5 million 183 thousand lira, 5 kilograms of gold, 200 kilograms of silver, and cold wallet cryptocurrency assets seized during the operation were confiscated.