Turkey hits illegal betting, casino gambling and online fraud, arrests suspects

• Over six days, Turkey conducted a massive cybercrime operation
• The coordinated effort resulted in raids in 29 provinces, combatting crimes such as illegal betting and casino gambling, child exploitation, money laundering and online fraud
• Initially, more than 400 people were detained

Hundreds of people, suspected of being involved in a range of unlawful activities, including illegal gambling, were recently arrested in Turkey.

The country has taken a decisive step in the latest nationwide cybercrime operation that took place last week.

The country remains dedicated to combatting online crimes

Notably, law enforcement conducted raids across the country under coordinated instructions by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK), the General Directorate of Security’s Cyber Crime Department and Public Prosecutors Offices.

The massive police operation follows an investigation into illegal betting and casino gambling, online fraud, online sexual abuse against children, as well as money laundering, among other crimes.

Some of the suspects were accused of operating illegal betting and online gambling platforms.

Those suspects also allegedly abused online bank accounts to engage in money laundering in order to conceal the source of ill-gained funds.

The individuals who are suspected of illegal gambling allegedly promoted their operations via social media.

Turkey’s Interior Ministry acknowledged that the country would continue to fight cybercrime "without compromise" to protect the public and ensure no criminal acts remain unpunished, as explained in a report from the local media outlet, Daily Sabah.

Besides illegal online gambling, some of the suspects were found in possession of child sexual abuse materials.

Equally concerning, other culprits engaged in loan sharking and other financial crimes.

In total, more than 400 suspects were detained after six days of raids across 29 provinces in Turkey.

Consequently, 213 culprits were arrested and of those, 117 were released under supervision conditions.

The remaining suspects are facing a range of charges for their alleged involvement in unlawful activities.

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