Istanbul police arrest 52 on illegal trading charges

ISTANBUL – Doğan News Agency

Cihan Photo

The Istanbul Police Department Financial Crimes Unit has raided 100 separate locations in Istanbul and arrested 52 suspects, including five customs officials, on charges of illegal trading.

Police raided 100 locations early on May 19 as part of an investigation headed by its financial crimes unit after the Küçükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued arrest warrants for 76 suspects on charges of “violating tax law” and “forming a criminal organization.”

Some 52 suspects, including businessmen and currency exchange officers, were arrested in the raid that was supported by the Istanbul Police Department’s Organized Crimes Unit and the Special Forces Unit.

The department’s financial crimes unit arrested five customs officers who allegedly turned a blind eye to procedures that cost the state millions of Turkish Liras, as well as illegal documents to commit tax evasion and market illegally imported textile products.

Police are still seeking 24 suspects who are abroad and were not found in their official addresses.

The suspects detained on May 19 were sent to the Istanbul Police Department’s Financial Crimes Directorate after their medical check-up was completed.