[50683] Widespread Wave of Arrests in Turkey: Police Raids Against Criminal Organizations and Terror Networks

Widespread Wave of Arrests in Turkey: Police Raids Against Criminal Organizations and Terror Networks

On May 5, 2026, media outlets in Turkey reported on a series of dramatic law enforcement operations carried out across the country. Law enforcement officials focused on combating organized crime, money laundering networks, and terror operatives, resulting in dozens of arrests.

According to a report by Son Dakika Haberler Türkiye, security forces conducted a wide-ranging raid in 8 provinces, designed to dismantle a network that managed "1.600.000.000 TL’lik kirli para trafiğini" (a flow of 1.6 billion Turkish Lira in dirty money). Minister of Justice, Akin Gürlek, confirmed the success of the operation and noted that it was a "mortal blow" to criminal organizations, as reported in Haber Gündem.

At the same time, Haber Gündem reported on several additional targeted operations:

• Combating FETÖ: 25 suspects were arrested in 6 provinces as part of a raid against the FETÖ terror organization, on suspicion of conducting "catalog marriages" and maintaining the cult's organizational structure.


• Organized Crime: In Istanbul and 5 other provinces, 63 suspects who were members of an armed criminal organization were arrested. In the activity, which was backed by air support, large quantities of weapons and drugs were seized.


• Money Laundering and Gambling: As part of operation "Paymix-3," an international network of illegal gambling and money laundering was dismantled, with 49 sites shut down and data of approximately 15 million users placed under surveillance.

In addition, police forces worked to eradicate street crime and classic criminal activity: 23 fugitives convicted of drug trafficking were caught in Adana, and simultaneously, 16 suspects involved in forging chassis numbers and selling vehicles that had undergone identification changes ("change") were caught in 3 different provinces.