24.10.2026 14:40
In the Istanbul Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office investigation into illegal reproductive cell trafficking linked to the TRNC, Albania, and Georgia, the operation of the structure alleged to include 53 suspects has been revealed. According to the case file, it was determined that donor candidates were selected through photographs, medication use was monitored through videos, and money transfers between the suspects exceeded 2.6 million lira.
In the investigation into illegal reproductive cell trafficking, it was determined that mutual money transfers among the suspects exceeded 2.6 million lira.
In the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into illegal reproductive cell trafficking linked to Turkey, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Albania and Georgia, details emerged about the functioning of the organization, which is alleged to include 53 suspects. It was learned that in her statement, 31-year-old Hacer T., who is considered to be the leader of the organization, said she wanted to benefit from effective remorse provisions and made statements about donor activities, connections established with clinics, drug procurement and money transfers. In the investigation file, attention was drawn to overseas trips repeated at intervals of approximately 20 days, the selection of donor candidates through their photographs, the video monitoring of drug use and commission negotiations among intermediaries. It was also stated in the file that messages were included in which Hacer T. said "I made her younger" in a conversation about a candidate's age.
IT IS ALLEGED THAT SHE MOVED FROM DONORSHIP TO INTERMEDIATION
Hacer T., whose statement was taken at the Migration Smuggling and Human Trafficking Combat Bureau Chief's Office of the Istanbul Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, declared that she wanted to benefit from effective remorse provisions. It was learned that the suspect, who stated she was a mother of two, said she supported herself with the salary she received from the company where she worked and the income she obtained from donor activities.
In her statement, Hacer T. explained that she began donor activities with the guidance of Emine Ç. and received 15-20 thousand lira from procedures in Cyprus. Stating that after finding the share she received insufficient she began working with Serap M., and that although she received 30 thousand lira in one procedure she left this connection because she thought she was being shortchanged, Hacer T. said that she later worked with different intermediaries and began going directly to clinics.
In the assessments in the investigation file, it was alleged that Hacer T., who is claimed to have taken part in finding other women after her own donor experience, directing them to clinics and coordinating the procedure processes, held a central position within the organization. In addition to her statements that she received 100-150 euros in return for following a donor's procedures, expressions in which she said she did not receive a fee in some procedures were also included in the file.
It was learned that Hacer T. stated that the follow-up processes of donors at clinics were carried out by the relevant employees, and that she described having acquaintances with some doctors, clinic employees and people who procured donors. The suspect stated that she knew people connected to some hospitals and clinics in Cyprus but did not know for what purpose some procedures were carried out. Hacer T. also denied the charges of founding an organization and membership in an organization.
In the statements and correspondence obtained within the scope of the investigation, it was alleged that tasks such as finding donor candidates, communicating with clinics, procuring drugs, arranging examinations, purchasing plane tickets and collecting fees were divided among different people.
It was stated in the file that Hacer T. was assessed to be in the position of leader, while Muharrem Ş., Ahucan A., Enis K., Hayat İ. and Özlem T. were in managerial positions. It was learned that names such as Emine Ç., Serap M. and Esma K. were also included in the file within the scope of donor procurement and intermediary activities.
In the investigation, where telephone conversations, messaging and money transfers among the suspects were evaluated together, it was alleged that some people had previously worked as donors, later directed other women into the system and demanded commissions in return for these referrals. It was noted that the attempts of more than one intermediary to obtain earnings from the same candidate sometimes caused fee disputes and arguments between the parties.
According to the findings in the investigation file, it was determined that Merve Ş. traveled abroad on a total of 30 different dates between 2023 and 2026, mainly to Cyprus and once to Albania. It was assessed that some of the trips, stated to have taken place at intervals of approximately 20 days, could be linked to allegations of donor procurement and obtaining reproductive cells at IVF centers abroad.
The repetition of the trips over the years, especially their being directed to the same country, and the purchase of some of the plane tickets by third parties were taken under examination within the scope of the investigation. The file included assessments that the trips taking place at intervals of approximately 20 days could be linked to procedures for obtaining reproductive cells.
It was stated that in Hacer T.'s statements she described directing women to Cyprus, Georgia, Batumi and Tirana, and it was assessed that the trips, in terms of country and date, took shape according to the needs of clinics, the suitability of candidates and existing connections. However, it was recorded that travel records alone did not definitively establish for what purpose each journey was made, and that these records were considered together with other evidence.
CANDIDATES' PHOTOGRAPHS WERE SENT TO CLINICS
In the messaging in the file, it was alleged that information regarding the physical characteristics of donor candidates such as age, height, weight, blood type, hair and eye color was collected, and this information was transmitted to clinics along with photographs. It was stated that in some correspondence five or six photographs were requested from candidates, and discussions were held among intermediaries to identify people suitable for the needs of the clinics.
It was recorded that in Hacer T.'s conversations with a clinic contact named Ümit, she asked which blood type was needed and explained that she matched candidates approximately a month in advance. In the correspondence, it was alleged that the appearances of candidates and the demands of clinics were evaluated in the same conversations, and the drug, examination and travel processes of the women found suitable were planned afterwards.
In the messages included in the investigation file, it was stated that in a conversation about a woman's year of birth, Hacer T. said "I made her younger," indicating that her age was shown as younger. It was alleged that the suspect asked that if the age information was questioned, it should be said that it had been sent incorrectly. It was learned that this correspondence was taken into account in assessments regarding the alteration of information in the candidate profile sent to the clinic.
In her statement, Hacer T. stated that the drugs named Gonal-F, Puregon and Menopur were used to enlarge eggs, and that she herself used some of these drugs during the donor process. It was learned that the suspect, who also made an explanation regarding the purpose of use of the drug named Gonapeptyl, did not separately specify which drug she used on which date and at what dose.
In the correspondence in the file, it was alleged that photographs of drug boxes were requested and that injections and ultrasound checks were followed through images.
It was stated that Hacer T. did not settle for photographs in some conversations and requested ultrasound videos, and that she explained she checked the doses the women used and the remaining amounts of medication.
Hacer T. stated that, regarding the supply of medications sent to other women, she delivered to the women medications that came from individuals named Baran in Antalya and Filiz K. in Ankara. It was learned that the suspect, who said she carried out these procedures at the request of clinics, also had conversations in the file with a person named Nevzat, whom she knew to be a pharmacist, concerning the sending of prescription-free medications.
In a donor's statement, it was stated that medications named Gonal-F and Gonapeptyl were sent to her by cargo or bus, that Hacer T. made the shipments, and that the suspect managed the organization's affairs. It was also recorded in the file that there were messages about the purchase of unused medications and their being sent to other women.
In statements taken within the scope of the investigation, it was stated that some donor candidates were taken to Istanbul for examinations before procedures abroad. One donor recounted that Hacer T. took her, together with two women, to a doctor in Pendik and that she paid the examination fee in cash. It was learned that Hacer T. also confirmed that account.
In Hacer T.'s conversations with a clinic contact named Ümit, it was alleged that she said the women did not want their examination records in Istanbul and that she explained the examinations were carried out without records. It was stated that the suspect asked in some correspondence that no records be made and spoke of methods involving bulk payments to physicians and cash payments made by hand.
In the assessments in the file, it was argued that the examination and preparation stages carried out in Turkey were connected to procedures performed at clinics abroad. Statements that some of the women went abroad alone and that some were met by drivers upon arrival also entered the investigation file.
The investigation file contained findings that more than one person took part in the travel arrangements of donor candidates. It was stated that the names of Hayat İ., Özlem T., and Enis K. appeared in flight ticket connections, and that some tickets were purchased by companies.
It was assessed that the person communicating with the clinic, the party purchasing the plane ticket, and the person carrying out the meeting abroad could be different. It was learned that Hacer T. explained that she went to Cyprus for her own donor procedures, was met by a driver upon arrival, and, after the blood test and procedure, usually returned to Istanbul the same day.
It was stated in the file that the Tirana and Batumi connections were also considered different branches of the organization. However, it was recorded that the same people did not take part in each of the trips, that some women traveled alone, and that there were accounts that they conducted transactions through different intermediaries.
MONEY TRAFFIC EXCEEDED 2.6 MILLION LIRA
In the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) records examined within the scope of the investigation, it was determined that there were mutual money transfers between Hacer T. and Muharrem Ş. In the file, in the listed account movements between September 4, 2024, and July 26, 2026, it was stated that 1 million 347 thousand 341 lira 53 kuruş was transferred from Muharrem Ş. to Hacer T., and 1 million 253 thousand 650 lira was transferred from Hacer T. to Muharrem Ş.
The total of the mutual money transfers between the two people was recorded as 2 million 600 thousand 991 lira 53 kuruş. The file also contained listed incoming movements of 1 million 373 thousand 501 lira 53 kuruş into Hacer T.'s account and listed outgoing movements of 1 million 394 thousand 750 lira from her account. It was stated that the total volume of the listed inflows and outflows was 2 million 768 thousand 251 lira 53 kuruş.
It was recorded that the account movements also contained explanations concerning medication, examinations, travel expenses, and debt relationships, and that therefore these amounts did not directly indicate the organization's net profit.
In another finding in the file, it was stated that Hacer T. said she sent 45 thousand lira to a woman on July 23, 2026, and that on the same day the said amount was transferred from Muharrem Ş.'s account to the relevant person's account. It was learned that Hacer T. stated that this payment was related to the purchase of unused medications.
It was stated that Hacer T. described Muharrem Ş. as her boyfriend, whom she met in 2025, and that the connections regarding medication supply and money transfers were also examined within the scope of the investigation.
ALLEGATION OF 8-10 THOUSAND EUROS PER PROCEDURE
In the messages in the investigation file, it was alleged that there were many negotiations concerning the fees to be paid to donors and the commissions to be given to intermediaries. In some accounts, it was stated that income of 8-10 thousand euros was obtained from one procedure, while 800-1,000 euros was allocated to the donor. Statements that the fees varied according to the clinics, the results of the procedure, and the number of eggs obtained were also included in the file.
It was stated that in a conversation Hacer T. had with a clinic contact named Ümit, it was discussed that 1,300 euros would be paid to the donor and 150-200 euros to her. It was learned that in another statement by the suspect, she said she received approximately 5 thousand lira from a procedure that concluded normally, and that if a low number of eggs was obtained, no payment was made to her.
In some messages in the file, it was recorded that Serap M. suggested giving 500 euros separately to two intermediaries out of a fee of 2 thousand euros. In another correspondence, it was alleged that Hacer T. suggested deducting 100 euros from the fee of a donor from whom a high number of eggs was obtained in order to balance the account of a previous procedure.
It was stated that during a negotiation, Hacer T. used the phrase "I have a girl who produces 90 M2," and in the same series of conversations she gave examples of amounts paid for different egg counts. It was assessed that the expression "M2" in the file related to the MII stage used to describe mature egg cells. It was recorded that egg counts, collected oocytes, and mature cell counts are different measurements.
In the accounts in the investigation file, it was alleged that some women who had previously been donors found new candidates from their circles of friends and requested commissions in return for these referrals. It was stated that Hacer T. explained that she gave 100 euros to the person who introduced her to another candidate, and that another donor accepted messages in which she requested the promised commission in return for the woman she referred.
It was learned that some donors were redirected to clinics where they had previously undergone procedures, and that Hacer T. said she had referred one woman six times. It was recorded that another donor explained that she went to Cyprus approximately once every one and a half to two months. In the assessments in the file, it was stated that the numbers of trips and the numbers of procedures could be different from each other, and that therefore the activities could not be determined based solely on flight records.
The investigation file also included messages indicating that arguments had occurred between some donors and intermediaries over fees, tickets and the procedure schedule. It was alleged that one donor wrote that she had received only 1,000 euros and that ticket and hotel expenses were causing problems, saying she would find another hospital, while Hacer T. responded to this message in harsh terms.
In other correspondence, it was alleged that Hacer T. asked a donor to delete messages and to say, if asked, that she had traveled individually. It was stated that some women wanted to stop working with intermediaries and communicate directly with clinics, and that this increased commission disputes.
The file also recorded messages in which Hacer T. said that during a money dispute she took a private image to show that the money was not with the donor and sent it to a person named Aden. It was learned that the donor, expressing concern that the image might fall into the hands of others, asked for it to be deleted. It was stated that the correspondence in question was included in the file within the scope of monetary disputes and the manner of communication between the parties.
It was learned that some women whose statements were taken within the investigation said they had participated in donor activities due to financial difficulties, debts and the need for additional income. It was stated that Ahucan A. said she started donating because of her debts, while some women mentioned unemployment and livelihood difficulties.
It was recorded that a donor in the file said her husband lost his life in an armed attack in Bakırköy in 2022, that a small daughter was present during the incident, and that she was seven months pregnant. It was stated that the same person tried to manage the care of her children and her working life together, and said she had to arrange her travel times according to these conditions.
In another correspondence, it was learned that a donor who stated she experienced abdominal bloating and groin pain due to the postponement of the procedure schedule expressed that she thought she was being kept waiting in order to obtain more eggs. It was recorded that these accounts contained the women's own statements and that no separate diagnosis of a medical complication was indicated for these persons in the file.
HEALTH RISKS OF REPEATED PROCEDURES
In the accounts in the investigation file, there were statements that ovarian stimulation with drugs and egg collection procedures were performed more than once. Medically, these procedures carry risks of complications such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, bleeding, infection and ovarian torsion. However, it was stated that there was no definitive determination that such complications occurred for each donor named in the file.
The repeated use of the same donor in clinics in different countries, if procedure records cannot be tracked between centers, can also lead to problems regarding genetic origin and family health history. It is assessed that children born to different families with eggs obtained from the same donor may be genetic siblings, and if records cannot be linked to one another, these persons may face the risk of forming relationships or marrying in the future without knowing their genetic closeness. In the investigation file, there is no definitive information regarding an event that occurred within this scope or the total number of children born.
It was learned that in the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, evidence regarding donor procurement, referral to clinics abroad, drug supply, money transfers and the division of duties among suspects was evaluated together.
In the file, it was stated that the actions of some suspects were evaluated within the scope of Additional Articles 1 and 15 of Law No. 2238 on the Removal, Storage, Grafting and Transplantation of Organs and Tissues and Article 91 of the Turkish Penal Code, and that Article 220 of the TPC was also raised with regard to organized crime allegations. It was recorded that assessments regarding the responsibilities of the organization's leader and administrators were made within the framework of the evidence in the investigation file.
It was learned that within the scope of the investigation, statements of the suspects, phone calls, messaging, flight records and examinations regarding financial movements are ongoing.
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