Azerbaijani mafia boss ‘Lotu Quli’ nabbed in Istanbul

ISTANBUL - Demirören News Agency

An Azerbaijani crime ring boss on Oct. 8 was detained in Istanbul by anti-organized crime police on charges of incitement to murder.

Nadir Salifov, alias Lotu Quli, was captured in an operation and taken to the Istanbul police headquarters on Vatan Avenue for interrogation.

He was released from prison in Azerbaijan a year ago after serving time for incitement to murder, arson, drug trafficking and robbery.

An arrest warrant was issued for Salifov with suspicion of his links to the killing of Russian-Azerbaijani mafia boss Rovshan Caniyev on Aug. 18, 2016 in Istanbul.

On Nov. 6, 2017, at a shopping mall in Istanbul’s Bahçelievler district, 10 members of a Turkish gang called Şirinler (The Smurfs) were busted during their meeting with Caniyev’s brother.

The gang members were allegedly offered five million Turkish Liras to hit Salifov.

Salifova’s possible connections with other murders of Azerbaijani nationals in Istanbul in recent years will also be investigated by police.