03.07.2026 09:40
In an operation conducted across 8 provinces centered in Istanbul, 31 suspects were detained for collaborating with civil registry officers to provide identity documents to wanted individuals, driver's licenses to those without or with revoked licenses, and fake residence permits to foreign nationals. Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced the operation, stating, 'Much stricter, deterrent, and comprehensive measures will be implemented against forgery of official documents.'
In the investigation conducted by the Bakırköy Republic Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Organized Crimes Bureau regarding the crimes of 'Establishing an Organization to Commit a Crime,' 'Forgery of Official Documents,' and 'Forgery of Official Documents by a Public Official,' the activities of suspects cooperating with civil registry office employees were uncovered. It was determined that the suspects provided identification documents to wanted individuals, driver's licenses to those whose licenses were revoked or who had never obtained a license, and forged residence permits to foreign nationals. Additionally, it was found that the suspects created fake identity cards using the personal information of individuals living abroad but owning movable or immovable property in Turkey, attempted to conduct sales transactions at Land Registry Directorates with these identities, and obtained illicit gains through this method.
DETENTION ORDER FOR 31 SUSPECTS
Within the scope of the investigation, a detention order was issued for 31 suspects. Subsequently, teams from the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Branch conducted simultaneous operations at predetermined addresses in Istanbul, Antalya, Izmir, Düzce, Bursa, Şanlıurfa, Çanakkale, and Edirne. During the operations, 31 suspects were detained, and search and seizure procedures were carried out at the addresses.
MINISTER GÜRLEK ANNOUNCED THE OPERATION
Announcing the operation, Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek stated: 'Under the leadership of our President Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in strong coordination with our Ministry of Interior and the National Intelligence Organization, we continue our uncompromising fight against criminal structures targeting public order, legal security, and the reputation of our state. In this context, we do not tolerate structures that encroach upon the official documents of our state and the legal security of our citizens.
Under the coordination of our Bakırköy Republic Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, within the scope of the investigation regarding the crimes of 'establishing an organization to commit a crime,' 'forgery of official documents,' and 'forgery of official documents by a public official,' an organized and systematic criminal structure that abused the state's trust has been exposed.
It has been determined that suspects connected to certain public officials working in civil registry offices issued identity documents to individuals with arrest records, provided documents to individuals without driver's licenses, created fake residence permits, and attempted land registry transfers using forged identities.
'WE WILL IMPLEMENT MUCH STRICTER MEASURES'
Such crimes targeting the reliability of public institutions are serious attacks directly aimed at the reputation of our legal system. Under the coordination of our Bakırköy Republic Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, search, seizure, and detention procedures have been initiated for 31 suspects in Istanbul, Antalya, Izmir, Düzce, Bursa, Şanlıurfa, Çanakkale, and Edirne by our Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command.
I clearly state from here: In the coming period, much stricter, deterrent, and comprehensive measures will be implemented against forgery of official documents. Judicial processes will be carried out in the harshest manner, using all means provided by law, against every public official who undermines the state's trust, abuses their duty, and opens space for criminal organizations.
On this occasion, I sincerely congratulate our Bakırköy Republic Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, which meticulously conducted the investigation, our heroic Istanbul Gendarmerie Command, which successfully executed the operation, our National Intelligence Organization for its invaluable contributions to exposing criminal structures, and all relevant public officials involved. We will continue our struggle resolutely to protect the legal security of our nation, the reputation of our state, and public order.'