18.02.2026 01:12
In a parking lot of a site in Bakırköy, Istanbul, the investigation launched over the claim that 30 million dollars were stolen from two parked vehicles has intensified. Following simultaneous operations conducted in three provinces, 9 out of 11 suspects sent to the courthouse were arrested.
An important stage has been reached in the investigation regarding the claim that approximately 30 million dollars was stolen from two parked vehicles in the parking lot of a site in Bakırköy, Istanbul. As part of the investigation coordinated by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, 9 of the 11 suspects detained were arrested.
SIMULTANEOUS OPERATIONS IN 3 PROVINCES
As part of the efforts carried out by the Theft Bureau of the Public Order Branch Directorate, simultaneous operations were conducted in Istanbul, Antalya, and Kocaeli. A total of 11 suspects were captured and detained during the operations. During the searches conducted at the suspects' addresses, 1 million 670 thousand 500 dollars, 13 thousand 200 TL, 860 drug pills, 2 unlicensed pistols, and 1 blank-firing pistol were seized.
9 SUSPECTS ARRESTED
The suspects, whose prosecution procedures were completed at the Bakırköy Courthouse, were referred to the duty magistrate's court. The court ruled for the arrest of 9 suspects, including 1 minor, while 2 suspects were released under judicial control conditions.
"I HID THE MONEY IN THE VEHICLES" STATEMENT
According to the statements included in the investigation file, Bilal Durmaz, who was heard as a "victim," stated that he closed the currency exchange office in Tahtakale and had kept the 30 million dollars in two vehicles located in the parking lot of the site where he has been living for about three months. Security camera footage revealed that the suspects arrived at the site by car and transferred the money in packages to another vehicle.
AN ORGANIZATION CHART WAS CREATED
The prosecutor's office evaluated the actions of the suspects as "establishing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime" and created an organization chart for the file. Arrest warrants were requested for some suspects on charges of "establishing and managing an organization," "qualified theft," and "destroying evidence of a crime." It was reported that efforts are ongoing to capture 6 more suspects believed to be connected to the incident.
THE VICTIM'S FATHER IS DETAINED IN A MONEY LAUNDERING INVESTIGATION
As the investigation deepened, another dimension of the incident emerged. It was determined that Bilal Durmaz is the son of Atilla Durmaz, the owner of Taç Döviz (Durmaz Gold), who was arrested on charges of "money laundering." The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office is conducting a comprehensive financial investigation into the mentioned company and its officials.
MASAK AND BDDK REPORTS IN THE FILE
As part of the investigation, MASAK and BDDK reports, statements from confidential witnesses, account movements, and camera recordings were examined. Accordingly, it was determined that 60 suspects controlled money transfers made to various countries, primarily Libya, and that more than 1 billion 300 million lira in criminal income was obtained from a transaction volume exceeding 47 billion lira.
CONTINUATION OF THE LARGE OPERATION
It was stated that this operation is a continuation of the large-scale operation conducted on October 14, 2025. In that operation, 48 people were detained, and 33 were arrested. By court order, 255 real estates, 60 vehicles, 24 company partnership shares, bank accounts, and crypto assets were seized.
In the prepared indictment, it was emphasized that during the search conducted in the business center where Taç Döviz operates, 46 million TL, 47 million dollars, 52 million euros, 40 gold bars, and 150 kilograms of silver were seized, and these assets did not match the company records.
The indictment also included allegations that a portion of the seized money was related to the investigation prepared against Ekrem İmamoğlu regarding "organized crime for profit."
THE INVESTIGATION IS CONTINUING IN MULTIPLE DIRECTIONS
Prosecutor's office sources stated that the 30 million dollar theft case in Bakırköy is only one aspect of the large financial investigation being conducted and that the possibility of merging the files is being evaluated.