Istanbul: Turkish security forces on Thursday detained 42 suspects in simultaneous operations across nine provinces in a crackdown on an organized crime network whose leaders are based abroad, the country’s interior minister announced. The operations, coordinated with the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, targeted individuals accused of serious crimes, including murder, assault, threats, extortion, and armed attacks on businesses, as stated by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya on social media.

According to Namibia press Agency, the raids were jointly conducted by the Istanbul Provincial Security Directorate’s Intelligence and Anti-Organized Crime units across the provinces of Istanbul, Adana, Samsun, Siirt, Kocaeli, Ankara, Izmir, Tekirdag, and Aydin. Yerlikaya further explained that a preliminary investigation suggested that the suspects allegedly used stolen vehicles or motorcycles and concealed their identities with masks during the commission of their crimes.

The investigation into the suspects and the transnational structure of the organization is ongoing. Trkiye has intensified its nationwide crackdown on organized crime in recent years, conducting large-scale operations to dismantle criminal networks.