About 13 of the 34 individuals apprehended due to their affiliations to the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) were detained, according to Turkish officials on Friday. Earlier this week, police conducted coordinated raids in five locations, including Istanbul and the western province of Izmir, and apprehended 41 people. According to investigators, seven other suspects escaped overseas.
Following their interrogation, authorities freed 21 individuals and placed four on probation. The individuals are accused of evading taxes and transferring money to the terrorist organization through a confectionery. Authorities discovered that they transferred the money to FETÖ by issuing fake invoices for business operations at the store in order to avoid paying state taxes.
The store gave the group funding under the pretense of “benevolence” by deducting money from employee paychecks, while not hiring anybody who appeared to have any affiliation with FETÖ. Authorities also found that the business was used for organizational meetings.
In December of last year, a candy store in the Bayraklı area of Izmir was searched on suspicion of FETÖ-related activity. Authorities discovered that the company raised TL 40 million for FETÖ and served as a “cell house” for the terrorist organization. The terrorist organization planned the July 15, 2016, failed coup in Turkey, which left 2,734 people injured and 252 dead. FETÖ is also accused by Ankara of being responsible for a long-running plot to topple the government by infiltrating Turkish institutions, including the judiciary, police, and military.
Since 2016, its impact has significantly decreased as a result of Turkey’s constant targeting of its active members and sleeper cells. The gang does, however, have a wide network, which includes infiltrators who may still be active in Turkish institutions.
Since the 2016 coup attempt, investigations and operations have shown that FETÖ supporters in civil institutions and army ranks have concealed their allegiance. FETÖ is also linked to a number of instances involving money laundering, fraud, forgery, and suspected conspiracies to arrest its detractors.
As investigators continue to attempt to dismantle the terrorist organization’s extensive global network of infiltrators, actions against them occur virtually every day. Police arrested hundreds of FETÖ suspects nationwide in 2024 alone, including fugitives attempting to escape to Europe from western borders.
High-ranking members of the organization were able to escape the nation before to and soon following the coup attempt. Therefore, the majority of those arrested were lower-level members.
The group is reportedly in disarray following the passing of Fetullah Gülen, its leader, in October of last year, according to Turkish security officials.
