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Türkiye's National Intelligence Organization (MIT) detained two individuals conducting espionage activities for the Israeli Intelligence Service, Mossad, in an operation coordinated with the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and the Istanbul Police Department's Counter-Terrorism Branch.
The MIT achieved a significant success in its "Monitum" operation targeting Israeli Intelligence Service activities in Türkiye, detaining marble trader Mehmet Budak Derya and his accomplice Veysel Kerimoglu.
Monitum is a Latin noun meaning a warning, admonition, or formal notice.
According to security sources cited by Turkish media outlets on Friday, Derya, a mining engineer who operated a marble quarry in Mersin's Silifke district, attracted Mossad's attention through his international trade activities starting in 2005.
Derya was visited at his office in September 2012 by an individual using the code name "Ali Ahmed Yassin," representing an Israeli front company.
Lured by a "business opportunity," Derya was invited to Europe in January 2013, where he made his first contact with Mossad operatives.
An Israeli intelligence officer using the code name "Luis" instructed Derya to hire Palestinian-origin Turkish citizen Veysel Kerimoglu and report on their joint activities. Kerimoglu's salary and operational expenses were paid directly by Mossad, sources confirmed.
Following Mossad directives, Derya used Kerimoglu's Middle East network to collect information on Palestinian individuals opposed to Israeli policies.
The gathered data and photographs of critical warehouses in Gaza were transmitted directly to Israeli intelligence.
Derya expanded his commercial and social relationships with Palestinians opposed to Israel's Middle East policies through Kerimoglu, forwarding all collected information to the Israeli service.
One striking detail emerged regarding Mohamed Zouari, who was assassinated in Tunisia in December 2016.
Investigators determined that Derya and Kerimoglu had attempted to sell drone parts to Zouari using samples provided by Mossad, establishing commercial contact with him before the assassination.
In early 2016, Kerimoglu proposed to Derya that they engage in drone parts trade. Derya immediately relayed this proposal to his intelligence handlers, and the Israeli service—finding the venture useful—provided the initial samples.
Given the importance Mossad placed on secrecy, Derya was subjected to polygraph tests twice—in an Asian country in 2016 and at a European hotel in August 2024. He passed both tests successfully, advancing to a higher operational level.
Mossad provided Derya with encrypted communication systems for his espionage activities. He also purchased SIM cards, internet modems and routers from Türkiye and other countries, transmitting technical data including MAC addresses, passwords, serial numbers and production information to the Israeli service.
During a final meeting with Mossad officers in Europe in January 2026, plans were made for Derya to establish a front company abroad for operational purposes.
The scheme aimed to infiltrate international supply chains through shell companies.
Under the plan, products procured from countries designated by the Israeli Intelligence Service would be coordinated for shipment to end users through three legitimate firms operating in Asian countries.
The front company under Derya's management would oversee the supply chain from procurement to export on behalf of the Israeli Intelligence Service.
MIT intervened at the final planning stage in January 2026. Processing of the detained suspects at police headquarters continues.
Derya maintained his relationship with Israeli intelligence from 2013 until his detention. During this period, he conducted third-country meetings with multiple intelligence officers using code names including Luis, Jesus/Jose, Dr. Roberto/Ricardo, Dan/Dennis, Mark, Elly/Emmy and Michael in various European countries.
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