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Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that in operations targeting the crime of illegal betting and virtual gambling conducted in 16 provinces, 27 individuals were detained, including suspects described as social media influencers with a large following on social media platforms.
Minister Yerlikaya announced on his social media account that, following four months of work coordinated by our Public Prosecutor’s Offices and the Cybercrime Department of the General Directorate of Security, operations were conducted on social media platforms targeting the crimes of advertising illegal betting and virtual gambling sites and promoting illegal betting and virtual gambling
16 ilde “Yasa Dışı Bahis ve Sanal Kumar” suçuna yönelik düzenlenen “SİBERAĞ-13” operasyonlarında;
Aralarında Sosyal medya fenomeni olarak tabir edilen ve sosyal medya uygulamalarında yüksek takipçisi olan şüphelilerinde bulunduğu 27 kişi yakalandı❗
Yasa dışı bahis, sadece… pic.twitter.com/2OVGE680tU
— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) December 27, 2024
As part of the investigation conducted in Istanbul, arrest warrants were issued for eight identified suspects. During the operation carried out by the Istanbul Police Department teams, Elanur Bulut, Salim Çato, Zeynep Buse Korkmaz, and Buse Şahin were detained.
It was determined that three of the four suspects who are fugitives, Buse Plan, Okan Serbes, and Tuna Yurdakul, are abroad.
The court ordered the arrest of Çato, Korkmaz, and Bulut, while Şahin was released under judicial control.
Some of the suspects have a large following on Instagram. For example, Korkmaz has 1.3 million followers, while Serbes has 1.2 million followers
Turkish government has been targeting influencers for a while due to their involvement in money laundering, tax evasion, and illegal betting.
Mostly, some influencers place illegal betting platform’s ads on their posts in subtle ways such as placing their logos on their photographs and videos.
In the latest operation against illegal betting conducted on Dec. 19, 319 suspects were apprehended in 54 cities.
