06.01.2026 10:34
As part of the investigation into allegations of 'money laundering' in the Grand Bazaar area, detention orders were issued for 80 individuals. In new operations conducted in 14 provinces centered in Istanbul, 68 suspects were detained, and assets worth 340 million lira were seized.
As part of the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, a fourth wave operation was carried out at the Grand Bazaar within the framework of money laundering obtained from the crime.
THEY LAUNDERED MONEY AND SENT IT ABROAD AS CRYPTO
As a result of the work done on the file; it was determined that the income obtained from fraud conducted through forex and information technology methods, as well as illegal online betting sites, was included in the legal banking system through shell companies and bank accounts, and the money obtained was sent to crypto companies and taken abroad.
ARREST WARRANT ISSUED FOR 80 SUSPECTS
In this context, law enforcement agencies launched operations in 20 cities. Raids were conducted at addresses identified in Istanbul, Adana, Ankara, Bursa, Şırnak, Şanlıurfa, Osmaniye, Sakarya, Kayseri, Kırıkkale, Rize, Manisa, Muğla, Rize, Samsun, Isparta, Batman, Elazığ, and Düzce. Law enforcement agencies detained 68 of the 80 suspects for whom an arrest warrant was issued. It was determined that two suspects listed in the detention list were abroad.
ASSETS WORTH 340 MILLION LIRA SEIZED
At the same time, the assets obtained by the owners of the identified shell companies and the suspects facilitating money transfers were seized from the date of the crime. It was learned that among the seized assets were 28 vehicles, 41 real estates, 11 residences, and eight workplaces. The value of these assets was reported to be 340 million lira.
In a statement made by the chief public prosecutor's office regarding the investigation, it was stated, "The investigation is being conducted in a multi-faceted and meticulous manner to protect financial security, prevent the entry of criminal proceeds into the economic system, and reveal all aspects of the organizational structure."
ALLEGATIONS OF MONEY LAUNDERING AT THE GRAND BAZAAR
Similar operations had previously been conducted regarding allegations of money laundering at the Istanbul Grand Bazaar and its surroundings. In the last operation carried out in November, similar charges were again directed at the suspects. Reports prepared by MASAK and experts indicated that an organization was established through shell companies and accounts opened by real individuals as shells, and that there was a separate accounting system created in the background for the organization of this system and the tracking of the money transfer system, into which criminal proceeds obtained from illegal betting, investment fraud, and cyber fraud were funneled. In the last operation, a detention order was issued for 26 of the 62 suspects detained.