Turkish prosecutors have issued detention warrants for 135 suspects as part of a sweeping operation targeting illegal betting networks across 33 provinces, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported on Monday.
The operation, centered in the central province of Eskişehir, was coordinated by the Eskişehir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and carried out by cybercrime police units with support from Turkey’s Tax Inspection Board.
The suspects are being investigated on accusations of establishing a criminal organization, operating illegal betting schemes, aggravated fraud and laundering the proceeds of crime.
Investigators determined that the network was linked to transactions totaling 8.7 billion Turkish lira ($192 million), with 1.2 billion lira ($26.4 million) moved through eight separate companies allegedly connected to the operation.
Police seized digital materials and bank cards during the raids, while detention and search procedures were continuing, Anadolu reported.
The operation follows another large-scale crackdown announced earlier this month, when Turkish authorities carried out raids across 24 provinces targeting illegal betting, online fraud and cybercrime networks. A total of 127 suspects were later arrested pending trial in that investigation.
Turkey has intensified financial-crime investigations in recent years after the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global anti-money laundering watchdog, put the country on its “grey list” in 2021 over concerns related to money laundering and terrorist financing oversight.
Turkey was removed from the list in June 2024 after the FATF said Ankara had made “significant progress” in improving its anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing framework.
Since then Turkish authorities have expanded investigations into illegal betting networks, cryptocurrency transfers and payment companies as regulators seek to prevent illicit funds from moving through the financial system.
According to a 2025 activity report published by Turkey’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK), authorities completed 502 analysis files related to illegal betting activities and sent 545 intelligence reports and information notes to relevant institutions.
The agency said transactions worth 5.1 billion lira ($131 million) linked to accounts allegedly used by illegal betting organizers were suspended as part of anti-money laundering measures.
Europol said in its EU Serious and Organized Crime Threat Assessment 2025 that online platforms, digital payment systems and cryptocurrencies are increasingly being used by organized crime networks for fraud and money laundering operations across borders.
The agency warned that financial crimes and cybercrime are becoming increasingly interconnected as criminal groups rely more heavily on cross-border digital payment systems, shell companies and cryptocurrency transactions to move illicit funds.