29.10.2026 20:32
In simultaneous operations conducted in 30 provinces centered on Istanbul against the Daltonlar criminal organization, 85 suspects, 30 of whom were children, were caught and taken into custody. It was determined that the organization, assessed to be run from Russia by Beratcan Gökdemir, for whom a red notice has been issued, gathered hitmen it procured through social media in WhatsApp groups and directed them to carry out attacks. It was detected that the suspects were preparing new attacks in their messaging groups.
Istanbul Police Department Organized Crime Combating Branch Directorate teams launched a large-scale operation to expose new-generation organized crime organizations and apprehend suspects.
In the investigation conducted with the support of the Intelligence Branch Directorate and under the coordination of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the activities of the organized crime organization known as the "Daltons" were scrutinized.
In the examinations, it was determined that the gang, assessed to be managed from abroad, recruited hitmen through social media platforms and brought these people together in closed messaging groups, directing them to criminal acts.
HITMEN GATHERED IN WHATSAPP GROUPS
One of the most striking details of the investigation was the method the organization used to direct the hitmen.
In the police teams' work, it was detected that the gang included people it reached through social media platforms in WhatsApp groups. It was understood that criminal acts were organized in these groups and that the hitmen were preparing for attacks.
Examining the closed messaging groups, the teams identified one by one the identities of suspects linked to the criminal network.
SIMULTANEOUS OPERATION CONDUCTED IN 30 PROVINCES
After the suspects' identities were identified, the button was pressed for a simultaneous operation in 30 provinces centered on Istanbul.
This morning, raids were carried out at designated addresses in Şırnak, Kayseri, Ankara, Aydın, Bursa, Gaziantep, İzmir, Hatay, Kocaeli, Mersin, Eskişehir, Kilis, Manisa, Mardin, Şanlıurfa, Adana, Antalya, Balıkesir, Batman, Bingöl, Kahramanmaraş, Kırşehir, Muğla, Muş, Ordu, Samsun, Tekirdağ, Trabzon and Van, especially Istanbul.
In the operations, a total of 85 suspects assessed to be linked to the organization were caught and taken into custody.
The detained suspects were taken to the Istanbul Police Department for their statements to be taken and procedures completed.
30 OF THE 85 CAUGHT SUSPECTS TURNED OUT TO BE CHILDREN
After the operation, another striking detail regarding the investigation emerged. It was determined that 30 of the 85 suspects taken into custody were children.
It was learned that 30 people, evaluated in the status of children in the judicial process (ASÇ) within the scope of the investigation, were also caught on suspicion of being involved in criminal activities linked to the organization.
Thus, it emerged that approximately one third of the suspects taken into custody within the scope of the operation were children.
THE ORGANIZATION IS ASSESSED TO BE MANAGED FROM RUSSIA
In the investigation, information about the management structure of the Daltons crime organization was also reached.
It is assessed that Beratcan Gökdemir, for whom a red notice decision is in place, manages the gang from Russia.
In the police teams' work, it was determined that the organization recruited hitmen through social media platforms, brought these people together in WhatsApp groups, and directed them to carry out attacks.
While judicial proceedings continue for the suspects taken into custody after the operation carried out in 30 provinces centered on Istanbul, the investigation into the activities of the criminal network continues.