Ankara raids target illegal gambling ring, 29 detained

Ankara police have detained 29 suspects following a series of coordinated raids targeting illegal gambling operations. The investigation, led by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, uncovered what authorities described as a structured gambling ring operating across multiple physical venues.

Simultaneous raids were carried out at nine premises. Authorities seized significant amounts of cash in multiple currencies along with gold, believed to be linked to criminal proceeds. The total value of seized assets is undisclosed.

Profits were generated by charging a 10% commission per table called “ganyota”.

Police monitoring revealed the presence of lookouts at entrances who were equipped with remote devices and able to trigger alarm systems to warn those inside of incoming raids.

In February, authorities dismantled an illegal gambling network involved in transactions surpassing TL 15bn ($341.8m). The operation spanned across 10 provinces, centred in Batman province, resulting in the detention of 73 suspects. 

Furthermore, in March, a total of 2,996 suspects were arrested across Turkey for drug and illegal gambling offences. According to Minister of Justice Akin Gürlek, 729 operations were undertaken with the coordination of the 171 Chief Public Prosecutor’s Offices across all 81 provinces. 

In total, 669 operations were against drug-related offences and judicial proceedings were taken against 9,185 suspects.   

Alongside enforcement actions, authorities have increasingly focused on disrupting the financial flows linked to illegal gambling.  

Over the past year, around TL 5bn n proceeds from criminal gambling activities were prevented from being laundered by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board, MASAK, through the interruption of financial transactions.

Amid the rise in illegal activity, coordination between institutions has also intensified. Officials recently held a high-level meeting attended by multiple agencies.