06.02.2026 12:20
The National Intelligence Organization detained Mehmet Budak Derya and Veysel Kerimoğlu, whom it identified as working for the Israeli Intelligence Service Mossad as a result of the "MONITUM Operation." Images from the operation that captured the two spies have emerged.
MIT, Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and Istanbul Provincial Police Department's Counter-Terrorism Branch conducted operations resulting in the detention of Mehmet Budak Derya and Veysel Kerimoğlu. Images related to the operation in which MIT captured 2 spies identified as working for Mossad were also released.
Mehmet Budak Derya, a mining engineer, opened a marble quarry in Silifke district of Mersin in 2005. Starting to trade with many countries around the world, Derya attracted the attention of the Israeli intelligence service. The person with the code name 'Ali Ahmed Yassin', an official of a front company established by Israel, visited Mehmet Budak Derya in his office in September 2012 and stated that his company wanted to do business with him. He invited Derya to a European country to meet his bosses. Seeing this as a business opportunity, Mehmet Budak Derya met with members of the Israeli intelligence service under the guise of being the owner of a company in Europe in January 2013.
The individuals he met with discussed the details of the marble trade they would conduct. An Israeli intelligence officer with the code name 'Luis' instructed Derya to hire Veysel Kerimoğlu, a Turkish citizen of Palestinian descent. Mehmet Budak Derya received instructions to provide them with information about the activities they carried out together with Kerimoğlu. Simultaneously, 'Ali Ahmed Yassin', who initially contacted Mehmet Budak Derya, also guided Veysel Kerimoğlu to work with Derya.
Mehmet Budak Derya THEY FOLLOWED PALESTINIAN OPPONENTS Following the instructions received from members of MOSSAD, Mehmet Budak Derya hired Veysel Kerimoğlu and even obtained his salary from the intelligence agents, developing a friendship as well. Derya and Kerimoğlu shared every step they took with the Israeli service. Through Veysel Kerimoğlu, Mehmet Budak Derya increased his commercial activities towards Middle Eastern countries. Thanks to Kerimoğlu, he also developed social and commercial relations with Palestinians who opposed Israel's policies towards Middle Eastern countries. He relayed the information he gathered about these individuals to the Israeli service. Using the commercial relations established by Israel within the framework of its occupation policy in Gaza, he attempted to obtain entry permits to Gaza. He sent photos of the warehouses he searched for in Gaza to Israeli intelligence.
HE EXPANDED HIS BUSINESS WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE ISRAELI SERVICE Not wanting to limit his commercial activities to the marble sector, Veysel Kerimoğlu proposed to Mehmet Budak Derya to trade in drone parts in early 2016. Derya, who reported every step they took to the Israeli service, immediately conveyed this proposal to the intelligence agents he consulted. The first samples of this initiative, which was also beneficial for the Israeli service, were provided by MOSSAD. Mohamed Zouari, whom Mehmet Budak Derya and Veysel Kerimoğlu tried to sell drones together, was assassinated by the Israeli intelligence service in Tunisia in December 2016.
Veysel Kerimoğlu HE PASSED LIE DETECTOR TESTS Mehmet Budak Derya has maintained his relationship with Israeli intelligence, which began in 2013, to this day. During this process, he conducted third-country meetings in various European countries with many intelligence agents with code names such as 'Luis', 'Jesus/Jose', 'Dr.Roberto/Ricardo', 'Dan/Dennis', 'Mark', 'Elly/Emmy', and 'Michael'. The Israeli service placed great importance on confidentiality to avoid risking the operations they had been conducting for many years. In this context, the Israeli service provided Mehmet Budak Derya with an encrypted communication system. Additionally, Derya underwent a lie detector test in an Asian country in 2016 under strict precautions. Derya successfully completed the test. After realizing the seriousness of the situation following the lie detector test, Derya began to act more cautiously regarding the activities he was involved in. The second lie detector test for Derya was conducted by the Israeli service in a hotel in a European country in August 2024. Derya, who passed this test without any issues, moved to a higher stage in the operation. Following the instructions of MOSSAD members, Mehmet Budak Derya purchased SIM cards, internet modems, and router devices from Turkey and other countries, sending photos of the labels containing information such as passwords, serial numbers, production details, and MAC addresses to his contacts.
In the last meeting held in Europe in January 2026, it was revealed that MOSSAD was preparing for a major operation through Derya. As part of the plan; it was aimed to infiltrate the international supply chain through front companies to be established abroad, and to deliver products obtained from specified countries to the end user by changing packaging and storage through three different companies based in Asia. It was assessed that the Israeli intelligence service was preparing a logistical operation targeting the countries and institutions it aimed at.
As a result of MIT's surveillance, the button was pressed in the final planning phase in January 2026. The procedures for the detained Mehmet Budak Derya and Veysel Kerimoğlu at the police station are ongoing.