Illegal betting laundering operation through social media influencers
In an operation carried out across 8 provinces centered in Ankara, 11 suspects alleged to have laundered illegal betting proceeds via TikTok virtual gifts were detained.
During the investigation coordinated by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was determined that illegal betting and crime proceeds were introduced into a money-laundering system through live broadcasts and virtual gifts on the TikTok platform. While 11 suspects were caught in simultaneous operations conducted by the Ankara Provincial Gendarmerie Command KOM Branch and Intelligence Branch Directorates across 8 provinces, efforts continue to capture 3 fugitive individuals.
The investigation targeting offenses against Law No. 7258 and the laundering of asset values derived from crime, conducted by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, was carried out by teams from the Ankara Provincial Gendarmerie Command KOM Branch Directorate and Intelligence Branch Directorate. According to determinations made, the suspects transferred the proceeds obtained from illegal betting and other crimes to influencers conducting live broadcasts on the social media platform named TikTok by sending high-value virtual gifts under the guise of donations. It was determined that after the broadcasters transferred these gifts to their accounts through the application, they returned the remaining amounts to the suspects in cash or via bank transfer after a certain commission deduction.
Within the scope of the investigation, Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) data belonging to 14 suspects over the past 6 years was examined, and it was established that there was a total money movement amounting to 1 billion 928 million 362 thousand 722 liras. Furthermore, it was revealed that jewelry was purchased from jewelers with the crime proceeds in an attempt to introduce the money into the financial system and take it abroad. Following the evidence obtained, 11 suspects were detained in simultaneous operations organized on November 10 in Ankara, Antalya, Bursa, Manisa, Istanbul, Kahramanmaraş, Gaziantep, and Hakkâri, while procedures continue to apprehend the 3 fugitive suspects.