A large-scale cybercrime operation was carried out as a result of the coordinated efforts of gendarmerie teams across Turkey. According to the statement made by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya on his social media account, a total of 74 suspects were detained in ‘SİBERGÖZ-39’ operations organized in 20 provinces. These operations focused on a range of crimes including illegal betting, qualified fraud, qualified theft and online child obscenity.
The operation was carried out under the coordination of the Gendarmerie General Command Anti-Cyber Crimes Department. Provincial Gendarmerie Commands in Izmir, Hatay, Bolu, Diyarbakır, Bursa, Kocaeli, Konya, Trabzon, Elazığ, Mersin, Adana, Artvin, Ankara, İstanbul, Düzce, Şanlıurfa, Ordu, Rize, Uşak and Gaziantep carried out simultaneous operations and dealt a major blow to various criminal organizations.
Operation Details and Suspects
In Izmir and Hatay, 24 suspects who made unfair profits by placing illegal bets on foreign websites were arrested, while 19 people who shared child obscenity content on social media platforms were detained in Trabzon. In Elazığ-based operations, 12 suspects who committed qualified fraud and theft with the promise of selling household goods through various websites were caught.
In the operations organized in Rize and Mersin, 3 people who obtained unjust gains by obtaining citizens’ bank account information and 6 people who played illegal betting with the same method were caught in the Bolu-based operation. In operations carried out in Istanbul and neighboring provinces, 6 people who defrauded people with the promise of high earnings through social media applications were detained.
In another operation organized in Uşak, Hatay and Gaziantep, 4 suspects were captured who obtained bank account information and transferred the money in those accounts to their own accounts. Investigations in the accounts of the suspects revealed a money movement of 120 million TL.
Operation Results
Unlicensed pistols and numerous digital materials were also seized during the operations. Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya congratulated the gendarmerie teams who carried out the operations and stated that their work continues with the prayers of the nation and emphasized that their determination in the fight against cybercrime will continue.