World · Middle East · 1 hr ago
Turkey arrests 150 in operations targeting illegal betting and crime groups
Turkish authorities arrested 150 people in three operations linked to illegal betting and crime groups.
The investigations were led by prosecutors in Ankara, Istanbul and Edirne, with operations across 18, 30 and five provinces respectively.
In the Ankara case, investigators examined alleged betting services and transfers of criminal proceeds through companies and crypto assets.
A financial report put the suspected transaction volume at 21.319 billion lira, and 23 companies were placed under trusteeship.
The Istanbul investigation concerns claims that people recruited through social media were directed towards crimes in messaging groups; 31 of the 87 people arrested were children involved in legal proceedings.
In Edirne, investigators said 12 suspects' bank accounts had 1 billion lira in transactions in the past month; eight were arrested.
Authorities are still seeking 41 other suspects across the three cases, and the justice minister said the investigations would continue.
Turkey’s justice minister said 150 suspects were detained in three operations targeting illegal betting and crime groups.
The operations were conducted in investigations coordinated by prosecutors in Ankara, Istanbul and Edirne.
In the Ankara investigation, authorities reported a suspicious transaction volume of 21.319 billion lira and appointed trustees to 23 companies.
The Istanbul operation targeted 100 people, including 34 children involved in judicial proceedings; 87 people were detained.
In Edirne, authorities detained eight of 12 suspects after identifying 1 billion lira in transactions in their bank accounts over the previous month.
- Who
- Turkish authorities detained 150 suspects in three operations.
- What
- The operations targeted illegal betting and crime groups.
- When
- October 27, 2026, according to the articles’ publication date.
- Where
- The operations were centered in Ankara, Istanbul and Edirne, and covered 18, 30 and five provinces respectively.
- Why
- Authorities said they aimed to disrupt illegal betting networks, protect young people and cut off crime groups’ financial resources.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Detained across all operations
- 150 suspects
- Ankara investigation
- 55 detained; 24 others sought
- Ankara suspicious transaction volume
- 21.319 billion lira
- Istanbul operation
- 87 detained out of 100 people targeted
- Edirne investigation
- 8 detained; 4 others sought
2 sources
What people are saying
Our goal is clear: to keep our streets safe, protect our young people from crime groups, dismantle illegal betting networks and dry up the economic resources of crime groups.
We will dry up the economic resources of crime groups and narrow their areas of activity.
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SOKAKLARIMIZI SUÇ ÖRGÜTLERİNDEN, GENÇLERİMİZİ SUÇ ÇETELERİNDEN VE YASA DIŞI BAHİS TUZAĞINDAN KORUMAKTA KARARLIYIZ! Milletimizin huzurunu bozan, gençlerimizi suça yönlendiren, yasa dışı bahis faaliyetleriyle suç örgütlerine finansman sağlayan yapılara karşı mücadelemizi