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Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that 20 suspects were arrested in operations against three separate organized crime groups conducted across six provinces centered in Istanbul and Oslo, the capital of Norway.
Yerlikaya announced through his social media account X, stating that joint operations were organized in Istanbul-centered operations in the Nigde, Mersin, Adana, Konya, and Mugla provinces, and Oslo, Norway, targeting three separate organized crime groups.
Among the 20 suspects arrested were I.A.C., who was wanted by Swedish judicial authorities with a red bulletin, and Y.K., who was wanted by Norwegian judicial authorities with a red bulletin.
The operations were coordinated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office with support from the General Directorate of Security's Anti-Narcotics Department, MASAK (Financial Crimes Investigation Board), Istanbul Provincial Security Directorates' Anti-Narcotics Branch, and Swedish and Norwegian security units.
Yerlikaya detailed the scope of the investigation in his statement: "As a result of work conducted on crimes of establishing an organization to commit crimes, importing narcotics, and laundering assets derived from crimes, we organized joint operations."
"1,540 kilograms of narcotics belonging to the three separate organized crime groups were seized abroad through joint efforts," he added.
Based on MASAK reports, 53 real estate assets, 27 vehicles, and 15 companies or partnerships linked to the suspects—valued at approximately ₺1.5 billion ($37.6M)—have been confiscated," the interior minister stated.
Minister Yerlikaya emphasized the government's commitment to combating criminal organizations: "We will resolutely continue our fight against organized crime groups and drug dealers for the peace and security of our nation."
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