22.06.2026 18:11
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek, stating that the fight against organized crime groups continues with determination, announced the new step taken. Minister Gürlek said, 'A new and comprehensive circular on the fight against organized crime groups has been sent by our General Directorate of Criminal Affairs to 175 Heavy Penal Court Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices in 81 provinces.'
Minister Gürlek's statement is as follows:
"Under the leadership of our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, we continue our fight against organized crime groups that target the peace of our nation, the labor of our tradesmen, the future of our youth, and public order, with unwavering determination.
In this context, upon our instruction, a new and comprehensive circular on 'Fight against Organized Crime Groups' has been sent by our General Directorate of Criminal Affairs to 175 Heavy Criminal Court Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices in 81 provinces.
With the circular, it is aimed to conduct judicial processes faster, more effectively, and comprehensively against criminal groups that are structured in cities, exploit our children and youth, propagate crime on social media, and dare to intimidate our citizens through extortion, threats, robbery, and armed actions.
Investigations will be conducted by our public prosecutors specialized in organized crimes; multiple prosecutors will be assigned when necessary; uninterrupted and zero-tolerance coordination with law enforcement units will be ensured; and no criminal will be given a moment's respite.
These structures will be targeted not only through their hitmen on the streets but also through their leaders, instigators, financial sources, and the proceeds of crime they attempt to launder via crypto assets, illegal betting, and similar methods, aiming to eradicate them completely.
All sanctions stipulated by our legal order will be applied in the harshest manner against those who try to drag our children and youth into the dark network of criminal organizations; and the issue of increased penalties in cases of exploitation of children for organizational purposes will be meticulously considered in all investigations.
Immediate action will also be taken against content that glorifies criminal organizations, spreads fear, and directs children and youth to crime on social media; no tolerance will be shown for crime propaganda, threatening language, and digital gangs.
Safe reporting, confidentiality, and witness protection mechanisms will be operated most effectively under the guarantee of the state; our tradesmen earning their bread by the sweat of their brow will never be abandoned to the mercy of gangs.
In heavy criminal centers, our chief public prosecutor's offices, public prosecutors, police, gendarmerie, and all relevant units will continuously monitor the fight on the ground through regular coordination meetings.
No matter who hides behind which mask; we will never allow street gangs, organized crime groups, structures targeting our children, those trying to extort our tradesmen, or those disturbing the peace of our citizens.
Our state will always continue to stand by its citizens, tradesmen, youth, and children."
Details are coming...