Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced Tuesday that 1,034 wanted fugitives have been apprehended across the country within the scope of “Operation Circle.”

Yerlikaya said in a statement on his social media account that simultaneous operations were carried out in 81 provinces with 7,795 teams and 24,483 personnel at 4,158 residences and 4,348 locations where fugitives with search records were identified.

Highlighting that 1,034 individuals with arrest warrants were captured, Yerlikaya specified that the largest number were those accused of theft – 342, another 239 individuals were involved in the crimes of assaults, 148 in fraud, 13 were involved in murder, 43 in sexual crimes, 54 in robbery, 90 in drug trafficking, nine in membership of an armed terrorist organization, two suspected FETÖ members, and 94 were wanted for other crimes.

Yerlikaya emphasized that they would not allow fugitive criminals to roam the streets and disturb the peace of families, stating in his announcement: “I congratulate the governors, district governors, provincial gendarmerie commanders, provincial police directors, coast guard, and police and gendarmerie personnel participating in the operations.”

In a similar operation conducted last week, Turkish authorities apprehended 2,136 wanted fugitives, the minister said at the time.

Source: Daily Sabah

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The Istanbul High Criminal Court ruled Friday to extradite Isaac Bignan, also known as the “Black Mamba,” a key figure in the criminal organization led by Dutch drug lord Joseph Johannes Leijdekkers.

Law enforcement agencies apprehended Bignan in early July of this year while attempting to flee from the southwestern province of Muğla. During his judicial hearing, Bignan pleaded with authorities not to send him back to the Netherlands, saying: “I demand my release. My life is here, my family is here. I don’t want to be extradited. Let the process continue without arrest.”

Bignan’s legal defense team argued against his extradition, claiming that the conditions for extradition were not met. Fehim Güneş, one of Bignan’s lawyers, emphasized that they were with their client on the day of the incident and that house arrest had not yet begun.

“As lawyers, we ensured his safe return home. We will not allow him to escape through us. The conditions of judicial control have not been violated,” Güneş said.

Another of Bignan’s lawyers asserted their client had no intention of fleeing, requested that he not be extradited to his home country and called for his trial to proceed without detention.

Despite these arguments, the hearing prosecutor issued an opinion in favor of extraditing Bignan and continuing his detention. Isaac Bignan, speaking against this opinion, expressed his reluctance, saying: “I don’t know what to say. I don’t want to be extradited.” When asked for his final words, Bignan reiterated his resistance.

The court ultimately ruled to extradite Bignan, citing his 12-year prison sentence in the Netherlands. Once the verdict becomes final, it will be forwarded to the Ministry of Justice for execution.

The court also decided that Bignan’s detention should continue due to suspicions of escape.

“Black Mamba,” who is wanted by Interpol with a Red Notice, was captured and arrested while getting into his car by police teams following a tip-off that he was preparing to flee from his residence in Istanbul’s Büyükçekmece. This marked his second arrest.

Source: Daily Sabah

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In a sweeping operation spanning 21 provinces across Türkiye, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya on Monday announced that law enforcement agencies had apprehended 148 drug traffickers. Yerlikaya took to his social media handle to share the groundbreaking news, emphasizing the extensive reach of the operation. The culprits were nabbed in a synchronized effort involving Istanbul, Bursa, Sivas, Bolu, Kahramanmaraş, Osmaniye, Iğdır, Uşak, Muğla, Diyarbakır, Antalya, Aydın, Van, Çanakkale, Denizli, Mersin, Sakarya, Balıkesir, Trabzon, Bingöl and Gaziantep.

During the operation, significant quantities of narcotics were seized as evidence of the traffickers’ illicit activities. Among the confiscated contraband were 300 kilograms (660 pounds) of methamphetamine, 126 kilograms of skunk, 10,500 narcotic pills, and 900 kilograms of marijuana and methamphetamine, along with 11.5 kilograms of Bonzai, and a substantial cache of various other drugs found in all the 21 provinces.

Yerlikaya congratulated the gendarmerie and police who carried out the operations and said, “We will never allow drug dealers to poison our youth and society.”

“Our fight against these criminals will remain relentless. Our nation should rest assured that we are always keeping a vigilant eye on them, and we will not allow them to operate with impunity. We are resolute in ensuring these wrongdoers face justice,” he emphasized.

Source: Daily Sabah

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The Terrorism and Organized Crimes Investigation Bureau of the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation against Turkish social media influencers Dilan Polat and her husband Engin Polat Sunday.

The couple is facing allegations related to four separate crimes, including establishing and managing a criminal organization, being a member of a criminal organization, laundering property values resulting from crime and opposition to the Tax Procedure Law.

Other than Dilan and Engin Polat, the investigation involves 13 suspects, including Engin Polat’s father Sezgin Polat, her brother Alper Kürşat Polat, her grandmother Zehra Yılmaz, her uncle’s wife Nilgül Yılmaz, Dilan Polat’s siblings Can Doğu and Sinem Sıla Doğu.

Concrete evidence has been identified indicating that the suspects have committed these crimes and acquired assets as a result.

The seized assets in the investigation include various means of transportation associated with 21 companies, such as cosmetics, jewelry and construction, of which the suspects are managers. This includes bank accounts, financial instruments, rights and receivables, valuable documents, partnership shares in related companies, safe deposit boxes, crypto asset accounts and all other asset values. Additionally, a travel ban has been imposed on the suspects.

The investigation also raises concerns about the possible forgery of documents aimed at reducing the corporate income tax base from internet sales and the involvement of Dilan Polat’s company, “Rise and Shine Kozmetik,” in the issuance of fake documents. The purchase of goods valued at a total of TL 225,743,000 from three supplier companies that issued fake documents has been questioned.

Source: Daily Sabah

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