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Turkish authorities have mobilized over 325,000 security personnel across the country for a four-day security operation running from Dec. 30 through Jan. 2, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced Monday.
The comprehensive measures involve police, gendarmerie forces, Coast Guard Command, Migration Management Directorate and the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), with preparations underway for the past month.
"As the Interior Ministry, we have taken our measures across the country for the New Year period with all our units, primarily our Police and Gendarmerie Organizations, Coast Guard Command, Migration Management Directorate, and AFAD," Yerlikaya said in a statement shared on social media.
Istanbul, one of the world's largest metropolitan areas, has mobilized over 50,000 security personnel for the New Year period, representing approximately 15.5% of the nationwide deployment, according to a press statement from the Istanbul Governor's Office.
The city has established 1,661 checkpoints spanning 7,225 land areas, 37 sea zones and four helicopter zones. A total of 50,427 personnel will be actively deployed, with security measures focusing on crowded areas to ensure public safety.
The Istanbul operation will deploy 112 emergency health service units stationed at command centers and 340 locations, with 1,304 health personnel ready to respond.
The Interior Ministry's AKOM (Disaster Coordination Center) will maintain 24-hour monitoring of potential hazards through various sensors and measurement systems.
Security measures extend to the Ticaret (Commerce) Directorate, which will conduct inspections with 30 personnel comprising 33 inspection teams focusing on economic activities.
The directorate will specifically target unfair pricing practices and regulatory violations affecting consumers.
Municipal services will operate with enhanced capacity, including street cleaning teams equipped with necessary tools and vehicles.
Authorities have also arranged for 33 citizen complaint centers to remain accessible for public concerns.
Security forces have established 12,687 checkpoints nationwide, with 298,000 officers assigned to public order duties and 27,000 dedicated to traffic control. A total of 44,068 teams will operate in the field, supported by 720 air units, 238 maritime assets and 430 detector dogs.
The operation relies heavily on technological infrastructure, including 31,424 public security camera system points with 107,423 cameras, 4,366 license plate recognition system points with 15,539 cameras, 1,064 mobile plate recognition systems and 6,708 facial recognition cameras.
Additionally, 115,854 law enforcement officers will wear body cameras.
In the month leading up to the New Year period, authorities conducted extensive operations addressing multiple security concerns.
Police seized 306,000 liters of counterfeit and illegal alcohol and processed 816 suspects in related cases.
Anti-narcotics operations resulted in 3,406 arrests, with authorities confiscating 3.5 tons of narcotics and 14 million drug pills.
Law enforcement also apprehended 19,616 individuals with outstanding arrest warrants, including 2,708 for theft, 297 for intentional homicide, 433 for sexual crimes and 3,218 for narcotics offenses.
The Migration Management Directorate elevated its measures to the highest level, activating 375 mobile migration checkpoint vehicles across all 81 provinces on a 24/7 basis starting Dec. 22.
Some 4,575 personnel will maintain continuous operations for 10 days, conducting checks at city entry and exit points, bus terminals, train stations, airports, parks, gardens and coastal areas.
AFAD has placed all 81 provincial directorates and 20 unit directorates on high alert. A total of 1,410 personnel and 396 vehicles will be deployed across the provinces and units during New Year's Eve.
The heightened security measures follow a series of major counterterrorism operations in recent days.
On Dec. 25, Istanbul police detained 115 Daesh suspects allegedly planning attacks targeting non-Muslims during Christmas and New Year celebrations, according to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.
Authorities issued arrest warrants for 137 suspects at national and international levels on terrorism charges.
The simultaneous raids across 124 addresses in Istanbul resulted in the seizure of pistols, ammunition and organizational documents.
A day later, the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and police captured Ibrahim Burtakucin, a Daesh militant preparing an attack on New Year's Day, in the eastern province of Malatya.
Intelligence work revealed Burtakucin was conducting activities on behalf of Daesh in Türkiye and seeking opportunities to travel to conflict zones.
Authorities seized digital materials, including Daesh software, images of flags and banners, and audio files used for recruitment purposes.
Yerlikaya emphasized that operations against terrorist organizations attempting to legitimize violence by exploiting religious beliefs continue nationwide.
The Interior Minister concluded his statement with wishes for health, peace and prosperity in 2026, particularly for oppressed regions, including Gaza.
By comparison, Germany's capital Berlin announced it would deploy 4,300 police officers for New Year's Eve celebrations, with fireworks bans in several neighborhoods, including the historic Alexanderplatz and areas of Kreuzberg, Schoneberg and Neukolln.
German authorities have already confiscated 147,000 illegal fireworks, including 108,000 classified as highly dangerous.
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