Turkish authorities have arrested 17 suspects in an illegal betting and virtual gambling investigation after financial analysis identified TRY6.2bn ($127.7m) in transactions linked to 40 suspects.
The investigation was initiated by the Ergani Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in Diyarbakır, with the Provincial Gendarmerie Command's Cyber Crimes Unit and Ergani District Gendarmerie Command conducting the operation.
Authorities allege that suspects facilitated illegal online betting and virtual gambling, obtained bank accounts from other individuals and transferred funds into cryptocurrency accounts as part of a laundering process. A report prepared by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) identified the TRY6.2bn transaction volume.
Simultaneous operations in Diyarbakır and Gaziantep resulted in 31 suspects being detained. Of those referred to court, 17 were arrested and 14 were released, including 11 subject to judicial supervision. Efforts are continuing to locate another nine suspects.
The investigation comes amid a wider series of Turkish enforcement actions targeting the financial infrastructure supporting unauthorised betting. In July, a Gaziantep-led operation across 45 provinces resulted in 236 suspects being detained and 171 arrested.
Authorities said that investigation involved the provision of IBANs to an overseas illegal betting site.
Other cases have focused on the movement of betting proceeds through electronic payment providers, bank accounts and cryptocurrency services. A July investigation centred on Ankara identified TRY231.3m in movements through bank, cryptocurrency and electronic money accounts.
In August, authorities seized control of electronic payment provider Dinamikpay after investigators identified approximately TRY17.9bn in transfers during a money laundering and illegal betting investigation.
Searches in the latest Diyarbakır and Gaziantep case resulted in the seizure of 28 mobile phones, 37 SIM cards, 26 bank cards belonging to different people and several computers and other digital devices.
Earlier this week, Turkey targeted 58 suspects in an Istanbul illegal betting investigation forming part of four organised crime probes covering 137 suspects nationwide. The case focused on payment panels integrated with illegal betting websites and alleged illicit financial flows.
A separate July operation centred on Gaziantep identified TRY84.3bn in transaction volume across more than 3.1 million transactions linked to suspected illegal betting activity
