Red notice fugitives captured in Georgia, returned to Türkiye

Eight fugitives, including five wanted under international Red Notices, were apprehended in Georgia and extradited to Türkiye, according to a statement by Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya on social media.

The logo of Interpol during the 89th Interpol General Assembly in Istanbul, Türkiye on November 23, 2021. (AFP Photo)

High-level operation leads to capture of wanted suspects

Minister Yerlikaya stated, "They fled to Georgia, but they couldn't escape the Turkish police. We have brought back from Georgia the individuals H.A., H.D., I.B., O.T., and A.S.O., who were internationally wanted under Red Notices, and R.U., C.K., and M.C., who were nationally wanted."

The extradition followed coordinated efforts by:

• The Ministry of Justice
• The General Directorate of Security
• Interpol-Europol Department
• Intelligence Directorate
• Department of Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime
• Department of Anti-Narcotics
• Department of Public Order
• Artvin Provincial Police Department

Details of charges against red notice suspects

The individuals captured and returned to Türkiye include:

• H.A., wanted internationally for "attempted premeditated murder of his brother"
• H.D., wanted for "prostitution and establishing a criminal organization to commit crimes"
• I.B., wanted for "robbery, intentional injury, armed threat, escape of convicted or detained person"
• O.T., wanted for "production and trafficking of narcotic or stimulant substances"
• A.S.O., wanted for "sexual abuse of a child"

The eight fugitives, including five who wanted under international Red Notices, who apprehended in Georgia and extradited to Türkiye, video published on 3 April, 2025 (Video via X / @AliYerlikaya)

Nationally wanted suspects also returned

Also returned to Türkiye were suspects sought on a national level:

• R.U., wanted for multiple offenses including "armed threat, evening violation of residence, property damage, escape of convicted or detained person, resistance to public officers, intentional injury, and unlawful deprivation of liberty through force, threat and deception"
• C.K., wanted for "human smuggling, possession and use of narcotic or stimulant substances (4 times), resistance to public officers, and insult"
• M.C., wanted for "fraud by posing as a public official or employee of banks, insurance, or credit institutions"

All eight individuals were apprehended in Georgia and returned to Türkiye through the Artvin Sarp Border Gate, where they were handed over to officials from the Artvin Provincial Police Department for processing.

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Türkiye's commitment to pursuing criminal fugitives

Minister Yerlikaya emphasized Türkiye's determination in combating transnational crime and said, "No matter what notice they are wanted under or to which country they flee, we will capture and bring back members of organized crime groups and drug traffickers one by one. They cannot escape the Turkish police!"

He also extended appreciation and said, "I thank the Ministry of Justice and the ministry personnel involved in the operation. I commend our Interpol-Europol Department, Intelligence, Anti-Smuggling, Anti-Narcotics, Public Order Departments, and the Artvin Provincial Police Department."

April 03, 2025 10:39 AM GMT+03:00