234 arrests and 300 million euros: large-scale operation against Turkish mafia in the EU
As a result of the largest international operation, law enforcement officers arrested more than 230 members of Turkish drug cartels operating throughout Europe — property worth hundreds of millions of euros was confiscated.
Photo: x.com/AliYerlikaya
As part of an eight-month special operation, Turkish law enforcement agencies, supported by European services, arrested 234 high-ranking members of Turkish organized crime.
As announced by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya at a press conference on April 15, arrests took place not only in Turkey but also in EU countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, and Belgium. Video footage of the raids shows at least one arrest in the Netherlands.
The operation targeted four transnational gangs involved in the smuggling of heroin, cocaine, and ecstasy.
According to the investigation, the groups were involved in transporting 21 tons of drugs. During searches, property worth about 300 million euros was seized: 681 real estate properties, 127 vehicles, and cash.
One of the arrested leaders is Orhan Ü., a Belgian Turk previously arrested in Amsterdam on suspicion of drug trafficking. According to Yerlikaya, the operation dealt a serious blow to the logistics and finances of the drug cartels.
It was previously reported that one of the leaders of the Russian-speaking criminal world was detained in Germany — the operation was made possible thanks to coordination between Ukrainian and German law enforcement.
It also became known that a large-scale operation was carried out by police in France to rescue millionaire David Balland and his companion, who were kidnapped for cryptocurrency ransom — ten suspects were detained.