05.05.2026 10:54
Within the scope of the 'Paymix' investigation, an operation was conducted targeting 38 suspects, including 22 abroad. A total of 26 vehicles, 18 residences, 18 fields, 3 workplaces, and 535 bank and cryptocurrency accounts belonging to the suspects were seized. The investigation determined that financial infrastructure was provided to illegal betting organizations through Paymix, crime proceeds were laundered via shell companies, multi-layered transfer chains, and crypto asset transactions, and a transaction volume of 3 billion dollars was reached.
Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek announced in a statement on his social media account that a heavy blow was dealt to organized crime groups with the 'Paymix-3' operation targeting virtual gambling and money laundering traffic.
As part of the 'Paymix' investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office's Bureau for the Prevention of Terrorism Financing and Money Laundering, investigations by MASAK and the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command Cyber Crime Branch Directorate revealed an organized structure operating at national and international levels involving illegal betting activities and the laundering of proceeds from crime. The investigations determined that the Malta-based crypto asset service provider Fincrypto UAB (Paymix) provided financial infrastructure to illegal betting organizations, and that crime proceeds were laundered through shell companies, multi-layered transfer chains, and crypto asset transactions. Additionally, it was determined that the structure generated an approximate monthly transaction volume of $1 billion. Two simultaneous operations were carried out against Paymix. In an operation targeting 30 suspects, numerous properties, vehicles, bank accounts, and crypto asset accounts were seized. Within the scope of the operations, Pentech Bilişim Teknolojileri Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Şirketi, Beluza Yazılım Bilişim Teknolojileri Turizm Tarım Gıda ve İnşaat Yatırımları Limited Şirketi, and Pen Telekomünikasyon ve Data Merkezi Limited Şirketi were assigned TMSF trustees.
THIRD OPERATION AGAINST PAYMIX
In the continuation of the investigation, technical and digital analyses conducted at Pentech Bilişim Teknolojileri Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Şirketi, which had a trustee assigned, revealed that infrastructure and hosting services were provided to 49 illegal betting sites through some servers within the company, large amounts of illegal betting user data were stored in the systems, and numerous bank accounts were used in illegal betting activities. According to technical examination reports within the investigation framework, it was determined that crime proceeds were transferred through crypto assets and converted into cash and gold, introduced into the financial system through sham commercial transactions via domestic and internationally linked companies, and an organized, multi-layered laundering mechanism was established.
535 BANK ACCOUNTS SEIZED
Within the scope of the investigation, a third operation was conducted against Paymix. Simultaneous operations were carried out against a total of 38 suspects, including 1 in a penal institution, 15 believed to be operating abroad directing the criminal organization and the technical-financial system, and 22 in Turkey. A total of 26 vehicles, 18 residences, 18 plots of land, 3 workplaces, and 535 bank and cryptocurrency accounts belonging to the suspects were seized.
RED NOTICE AND ARREST WARRANT FOR SUSPECTS
A red notice and search warrant were issued for the arrest of suspects located abroad. TMSF was appointed as trustee for Bildiğin Kasap Gıda Üretim Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Şirketi, which is strongly suspected of being financed by crime proceeds. Additionally, within the scope of the operation, targeting the technical infrastructure of illegal betting sites, servers within Pentech Bilişim Teknolojileri Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Şirketi were deactivated, and the activities of numerous illegal betting sites were halted.
ANOTHER HEAVY BLOW TO A CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION
Furthermore, Minister Gürlek announced that in another simultaneous operation conducted across 8 provinces centered in Izmir, a heavy blow was dealt to a criminal organization managing a money flow of approximately 1.6 billion Turkish liras related to virtual gambling.
Emphasizing that the determined fight against all types of illegal structures will continue in coordination with all state units, Gürlek stated the following:
"This morning, with the simultaneous operation carried out in 8 provinces centered in Izmir, a heavy blow was dealt to a criminal organization managing a dirty money flow of approximately 1.6 billion Turkish liras. Our determined fight will continue in coordination with all units of our state against any illegal structure that disrupts the peace of our society, targets our family structure, and seeks to drag our youth into this swamp.
I congratulate our Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, which successfully coordinated this major cleanup operation, and the Ministry of Interior officials, especially our heroic police force. We will never surrender our citizens to the swamp of virtual betting and gambling."