25.05.2026 11:21
It has been revealed that an international financial crime organization, whose suspicious money movements and laundering activities totaling 200 billion Turkish lira were detected in an operation conducted across 21 provinces centered in Adana, converted the laundered money into physical cash through a courier system using exchange offices in the Grand Bazaar and Adana.
In an operation conducted across 21 provinces centered in Adana, it was revealed that an international financial crime organization, with suspicious money movements and laundering activities detected at a level of 200 billion Turkish lira, converted the laundered money into physical cash through a courier system from the Grand Bazaar and exchange offices in Adana. It was stated that couriers used a 5-lira banknote with a predetermined serial number as a password between the organization and exchange offices and jewelers, taking the delivered foreign currency, gold, and TL directly to the organization's leader. It was determined that jewelers and exchange offices received a 10 percent commission from these transactions.
In 2024, teams from the Adana Police Department's Cybercrime Unit, during an operation targeting the crime of 'Aggravated fraud' at Serdal Tanak's home, seized 8 unlicensed pistols, numerous cryptocurrency mining devices, and digital materials. After arresting and detaining Tanak, cyber police cracked his mobile phone password and, during an examination of the device, uncovered an international illegal betting network. Police reviewed correspondence related to the organization's scheme and activities, and with the prosecutor's permission, began gathering evidence.
EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED
The Adana Chief Public Prosecutor's Office's Bureau for Investigation of Terrorism Financing and Money Laundering Crimes launched an investigation into a criminal organization deemed to be a professional financial crime organization operating on a national and international scale. In the technical and physical surveillance initiated by cyber police, it was determined that the organization, identified as committing crimes of 'Illegal betting,' 'Aggravated fraud using information systems,' 'Bribery,' and 'Laundering of proceeds from crime,' laundered criminal proceeds by circulating them through electronic money institutions, bank accounts, virtual POS systems, exchange offices, jewelers, shell companies, and crypto asset systems.
200 BILLION LIRA IN MONEY MOVEMENTS
When bank transactions, digital material examinations, crypto asset analyses, and HTS records were examined, it was found that the organization, which established specialized software infrastructures and panel systems and provided financial infrastructure to illegal betting sites, was involved in suspicious money movements and laundering activities at a level of approximately 200 billion Turkish lira, as per the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) analysis and financial investigations within the scope of the probe. Journalist Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı, who allegedly had access to details of the crimes, was also added to the investigation file following the requested MASAK reports.
TAKING 70 PERCENT SHARE
Meanwhile, it was reported that Selahattin Akın Uzun, learned to be a citizen of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), managed the organization from abroad. Uzun, determined to have connections in Montenegro and the TRNC, used the TRNC as an operations center and was found to have close ties with Halil Falyalı, killed in 2022, and his circle. It was established that Uzun, addressed as 'Big brother Akın' by organization members, had a 70 percent profit share within the organization and supervised financial movements through daily and weekly reports.
DETENTION ORDER FOR 198 SUSPECTS
Within the scope of the investigation, detention orders were issued for 198 suspects, including 3 bank managers, 8 police personnel, 4 lawyers, journalist Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı, and organization leader Selahattin Akın Uzun. On May 14, police teams launched operations at addresses determined across 21 provinces centered in Adana, detaining 161 suspects, including Uzun and Kütahyalı. Assets belonging to the suspects and companies, including 221 properties, 120 vehicles, and 3 boats, were seized.
10 PERCENT COMMISSION FROM LAUNDERED MONEY
During the police's technical and physical surveillance, it was revealed that organization members converted laundered money into physical cash through a courier system. It was determined that couriers were given a 5-lira banknote with a predetermined serial number, and a photo of the same banknote was sent to jewelers and exchange offices in the Grand Bazaar and Adana. It was found that the courier showed the 5-lira banknote used as a password to jewelry and exchange office managers, who then handed over the laundered money sent to their accounts as cash to this courier in a suitcase. It was learned that millions of lira in cash were converted into foreign currency, TL, and gold through this method and delivered directly to the organization's leader. It was determined that the jewelers and exchange offices, whose assets were seized and trustees appointed during the operation, received a 10 percent commission from these transactions.
135 ARRESTS
Of the suspects whose police procedures were completed, 7 were released on the prosecutor's order, while 154 were referred to court on May 17. Among the suspects brought before the court, 135 were arrested, including Selahattin Akın Uzun, Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı, and Serdal Tanak who was already in prison, while 19 were released under judicial supervision.