Nurlan Zharımbetov, a Kazakh national who is wanted on an INTERPOL Red Notice for fraud, has been captured in a raid in İstanbul, according to Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.
Zharımbetov is also being sought for two separate theft offenses.
Yerlikaya, who has announced the capture of many wanted individuals in Turkey since taking office in early June, on Tuesday said on X that Zharımbetov was apprehended in İstanbul as part of “Operation Dungeon-27.”
The minister vowed to continue the fight against international organized crime syndicates, drug traffickers and anyone else who disturbs the peace of the people and bring them to justice.
İstanbul'da düzenlenen "MAHZEN-27" operasyonuyla hakkında İnterpol'ün
🟥 Kırmızı bültenle dolandırıcılık suçundan,
🟨 Sarı Bültenle 2 ayrı hırsızlık suçundan aranma kaydı bulunan Kazakistan uyruklu Nurlan Zharımbetov yakalandı❗Aziz Milletimizin Bilmesini İsterim ki;
Hangi… pic.twitter.com/tkdApJnZXa— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) April 16, 2024
During the time in office of Yerlikaya’s predecessor, Süleyman Soylu, Turkey faced allegations of involvement in international drug trafficking, primarily driven by Turkish mob boss Sedat Peker. In a series of dramatic videos in 2021, Peker accused Soylu and other high-ranking officials of protecting and facilitating cocaine trafficking networks.
Soylu’s departure from the ministry had brought his alleged involvement in international drug trafficking and ties to mafia groups into the spotlight, leading to significant changes in the Turkish police force and crackdowns on international drug rings.
Soylu was appointed interior minister shortly after a coup attempt in Turkey in July 2016. He was the architect of a massive purge and the arrest of thousands of non-loyalist citizens on bogus terrorism or coup charges.
He was elected to parliament in the May general election as a ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) lawmaker and enjoys parliamentary immunity.