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Turkish intelligence agencies conducted six operations against Israel's Mossad spy network over the past three years, detaining dozens of people accused of selling information and conducting espionage activities in Türkiye, according to information compiled by state-run Anadolu Agency (AA).
The National Intelligence Organization (MIT) identified individuals and private detectives connected to Israeli intelligence by analyzing communication networks and determining their links to Mossad since operations began in 2022, according to security sources.
The intelligence agency determined Mossad tracked targets in Türkiye through private detectives, prompting an operation in December 2022 against Mossad's private detectives and tactical operatives.
Authorities processed 68 people in that operation.
Within the same year, an investigation by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office revealed that nine suspects had sold information to Mossad through private detectives.
Examination of the suspects' telecommunications records and Financial Crimes Investigation Board data revealed that information, including address determinations and flight details, was transferred to Mossad for financial gain.
Istanbul Police Department Intelligence Branch and Counterterrorism Branch teams conducted simultaneous operations in Istanbul and Izmir, capturing seven of nine suspects with detention orders.
In January 2024, following work by the National Intelligence Organization and the Intelligence Branch, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Terror and Organized Crimes Investigation Bureau opened an investigation.
The investigation determined Israel's Mossad intelligence service aimed to conduct reconnaissance, tracking, assault and kidnapping operations against Palestinian residents in Türkiye for humanitarian reasons and Israeli activists opposed to Israel's actions.
Teams discovered Mossad officials contacted suspects through social media and gained access to information about certain individuals. Authorities assessed the activities could constitute "international espionage" and moved to capture 46 suspects.
Police forces conducted simultaneous operations at 57 addresses in 15 Istanbul districts and in Ankara, Kocaeli, Hatay, Mersin, Izmir, Van and Diyarbakir, capturing 34 suspects.
In March 2024, MIT and the Istanbul Police Department Counterterrorism Branch teams conducted an operation against suspects accused of selling information to Mossad, detaining seven suspects.
One suspect was identified as Hamza Turhan Ayberk, a former public employee who appeared on morning television programs. Authorities determined Mossad contacted Ayberk through an agent with the code name "Victoria."
The intelligence organization determined Ayberk, described as working as a private detective, leaked information to Mossad for money. Authorities established that Ayberk formed a team, including public employees, to provide information to Mossad and compiled information about Middle Eastern individuals and companies in Türkiye based on instructions he received.
Ayberk received training from Mossad in Belgrade in 2019 regarding work to be conducted, according to the investigation. The Israeli intelligence service initially used him for simple tasks.
Hamza Turhan Ayberk used secret communication applications at Mossad's direction and received payments in cryptocurrency to avoid official records.
In addition to leaking information, Ayberk engaged in threatening and tracking activities, transferring real-time locations of targeted individuals to Mossad through tracking devices he placed in their vehicles, harassing these individuals and occasionally making threats, according to the investigation.
In September 2024, Liridon Rexhepi, determined to manage Mossad's financial network in Türkiye through National Intelligence Organization work, was detained by Istanbul Police Department Counterterrorism Branch and arrested.
Authorities determined Rexhepi conducted drone photography on Israeli intelligence service orders and carried out psychological operations against Palestinian politicians. Rexhepi transferred money to field operatives in Türkiye who compiled information about Syria.
The National Intelligence Organization determined Rexhepi conducted numerous money transfers through Western Union to field operatives in Türkiye. Authorities began monitoring Rexhepi's activities from the moment he entered Türkiye on Aug. 25, 2024.
Rexhepi was detained on Aug. 30, 2024, following coordinated work between the National Intelligence Organization and Istanbul Police Department Counter-Terrorism Branch. He acknowledged making money transfers in his police statement and was arrested by the court.
Operations revealed Mossad provided money transfers to field operatives in Türkiye primarily from Kosovo and other Eastern European countries. Money tracking determined field operatives in Türkiye transferred money received through Kosovo to sub-sources in Syria via Western Union and cryptocurrency methods.
On Friday, MIT detained Serkan Cicek, determined to be working for Mossad, in a joint operation with the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and Istanbul Police Department.
MIT conducted an operation codenamed "Metron" targeting Cicek after determining he was working for Israel, according to security sources.
Intelligence work revealed Cicek maintained contact with Faysal Rasheed, a member of the "Israel Online Operations Center." Cicek accepted an espionage assignment from Rasheed targeting a Palestinian activist opposed to Israel's Middle East policies.
Authorities determined Cicek, whose real name is Muhammet Fatih Keles, changed his name after accumulating significant business debts. He left commerce and established Pandora Detective Agency in 2020.
Cicek became acquainted with Musa Kus, imprisoned for espionage for Israel, and lawyer Tugrulhan Dip, both providing personal data from public records to detectives for financial compensation. He worked with both Kus, currently imprisoned, and Dip in detective activities.
Rasheed, a Mossad agent, contacted Cicek through WhatsApp on July 31, presenting himself as a foreign law firm employee. He requested a four-day surveillance operation targeting a Palestinian activist living in Basaksehir who opposed Israel's Middle East policies, paying Cicek $4,000 in cryptocurrency on Aug. 1.
Despite knowing Kus had been sentenced to 19 years in prison for working for Israel, Cicek accepted Rasheed's offer, authorities said. He failed to gather the requested information and Rasheed terminated contact on Aug. 3.
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