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Turkish authorities have seized six companies and appointed trustees to 10 others as part of a sweeping investigation into an alleged fuel-sector network accused of using fake invoices and fictitious export transactions to evade taxes, Justice Minister Akin Gurlek announced on Monday.
The operation, carried out simultaneously across nine provinces, also led to judicial action against 27 suspects. Investigators allege the network undermined public finances through organized tax violations, smuggling activities and fraud targeting state institutions.
The investigation centers on a company structure that authorities say imported roughly 350,000 to 400,000 tons of LPG annually while allegedly using fabricated commercial documentation and overseas trade records to avoid substantial tax obligations.
The volumes are substantial in the context of Türkiye's LPG market. According to data from the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK), the country imported 3.4 million tons of LPG in 2025. Based on those figures, the annual import volumes cited by prosecutors would be equivalent to roughly 10% to 12% of Türkiye's total LPG imports in 2025.
Prosecutors believe the special consumption tax (SCT) and value-added tax (VAT) obligations generated by those imports were sidestepped through a network of fake invoices and fictitious export transactions.
"We will not tolerate any organized structure that targets our tax security, economic order and public resources," Gurlek stated, adding that authorities would continue tracking criminal proceeds and pursuing networks that cause public losses through fraudulent invoicing and fictitious exports.
Authorities did not disclose the names of the companies that were seized or placed under trustee administration as part of the investigation.
Under Turkish law, courts may appoint the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) as a trustee to manage companies during criminal investigations.
In such cases, TMSF assumes control of management and operations while legal proceedings continue, with the stated aim of preserving assets, maintaining business activity and protecting employees and creditors.
TMSF currently oversees 1,159 companies under trustee administration, making it one of the country's largest managers of corporate assets under judicial supervision.
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