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Turkish authorities arrested seven people, including customs officials, for selling classified defense industry import and export data through Telegram groups and social media platforms, following a June operation that exposed commercial and military espionage activities.
The Trade Ministry inspectors discovered the espionage network after defense companies, including Aselsan, reported finding their proprietary data on foreign websites, according to Turkish media reports.
The suspects allegedly sold trade secrets from Türkiye's defense companies to third parties through paid memberships between 2023 and 2025, compromising sensitive military and commercial information.
Investigators found that data about Aselsan-developed products, including drum-fed grenade launchers, automatic grenade launchers and infantry machine guns, were marketed to companies with large databases in East Asia.
The leaked information reportedly contained details that should have remained classified as commercial and military secrets, including product quantities, weights, types and specifications that require Ministry of National Defense approval for export or import.
Customs officials Necmettin G. and Ihsan S. were identified after their database queries appeared on foreign websites, according to the investigation.
Customs Protection and Anti-Smuggling Intelligence units infiltrated a Telegram group called "Disticaretistihbarati" to expose the commercial espionage activities.
The ministry officials detected that data from the Trade Ministry's "Decision Support System" (KDS) and "Bilge" systems were being shared illegally. Investigators identified each customs employee who accessed and extracted the data.
Istanbul Public Prosecutor, responsible for the Terror Crimes Investigation Bureau, coordinated the June operation with Istanbul Counterterrorism Branch teams, resulting in 10 arrests.
Bank account investigations revealed that Gulsen B., who marketed data on Telegram, received approximately ₺65,000 ($1,569) from Mustafa K., a sales director in the import-export sector.
Mustafa K.'s previous bank transactions showed a $7,000 exchange with a foreign data storage company. Investigators determined that this $7,000 represented annual subscription fees paid by companies accessing the leaked data on foreign websites.
Prosecutors noted the leaked data contained information that could pose security threats to Türkiye, potentially enabling terrorist organizations and foreign intelligence services to obtain strategic information.
Seven suspects were arrested on charges of "disclosing information that should remain confidential for state security and political interests," including customs officials Ali A. and Aslan K., and businessman Cagatay E., owner of DAC Consulting.
The suspects denied the charges during their statements. Three suspects were released under judicial supervision while the investigation continues.
Companies affected by the data breach include members of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) and the Turkish Exporters Assembly, along with major defense contractors.
The Trade Ministry acted immediately after discovering that import and export data from Turkish companies stored on ministry servers were being leaked abroad through paid memberships.
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