The Turkish Ministry of Interior announced the detention of 216 suspects in operations conducted across 52 provinces. The actions targeted individuals who made posts on social media platforms that glorified hitmen and criminal organizations.
Authorities stated that the detained suspects used groups on communication platforms to post content aimed at procuring hitmen or offering hitman services. The ministry noted that these accounts contained threats, insults, and propaganda for criminal organizations.
The ministry explained that the suspects used social media to announce organizational activities and recruit new members. The posts were also intended to carry hostility and rivalry between criminal organizations onto digital platforms and create the perception that criminal activities were normal.
Coordinated security operation
The operations were carried out on the instructions of Turkish Minister of Interior Mustafa Çiftçi. Coordination was handled by the General Directorate of Security's Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Department (KOM) and public prosecutor's offices.
The Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MİT), the General Directorate of Security's Intelligence Department, and the Cyber Crimes Department participated in the joint operations.
The Turkish Ministry of Interior congratulated the police, department presidencies, the MİT presidency, public prosecutor's offices, and other contributors to the operations.