Major operation against organized crime group leads to 33 detentions across 8 provinces
A major organized crime group operating in multiple provinces in Turkey has been dismantled as a result of a successful operation conducted by the Diyarbakır Provincial Police Department Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Branch Directorate. Led by Minister of Internal Affairs Ali Yerlikaya, the operation targeted the group based in Diyarbakır, with operations also taking place in Ankara, Bingöl, Antalya, Aydın, Bursa, Çorum, and Kahramanmaraş.
The group, headed by Umut Öken, was known for various criminal activities, including breaking into the workplaces of local tradesmen, intimidation, threats, and exerting pressure on businesses in the Sur region. They also engaged in violent acts, such as injuring and threatening individuals, using children to carry out crimes, and establishing unauthorized courts to settle disputes between rival groups.
During the operation, a total of 33 suspects linked to the organized crime group were apprehended. The authorities also seized a significant amount of illegal weapons, including unlicensed pistols, automatic pistols, and hunting rifles, along with ammunition.
Minister Yerlikaya emphasized the government’s commitment to dismantling criminal organizations of any size and bringing them to justice. He assured the public that operations against organized crime groups will continue with relentless determination to maintain law and order in the region. The successful operation serves as a clear message that criminal activities will not be tolerated, and those responsible will be held accountable for their actions.
