Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on Monday that 429 individuals have been detained over the past 10 days in a series of nationwide operations targeting cybercrime.

The crackdown focused particularly on child exploitation, sophisticated fraud schemes, and illegal betting activities.

The operations spanned 35 provinces, with the most recent Istanbul-centered intervention covering 15 provinces resulting in the detention of 75 additional suspects. Of those apprehended, 117 have been formally arrested, while 93 were placed under judicial control. Investigations and legal proceedings for the remaining suspects are ongoing.

Authorities also seized substantial assets linked to the criminal activities. Confiscated property includes 16 companies, 13 residences, 37 vehicles, 8 motorcycles, 14 housing units, 7 shops, 13 plots of land or fields, 447 bank accounts, and various pieces of jewelry, totaling approximately 1.052 billion Turkish lira.

In the Istanbul operation, investigators revealed that the suspects had lured citizens into messaging groups via social media by promising high earnings. The suspects allegedly facilitated money transfers through shell companies and accounts and attempted to conceal their illicit gains using cryptocurrency exchanges.

Minister Yerlikaya emphasized that the operations demonstrate Türkiye’s commitment to combating cybercrime and protecting citizens from online exploitation and fraudulent schemes. Authorities pledged to continue coordinated efforts to dismantle criminal networks operating in the digital space. (ILKHA)