Pre-World Cup Final Crackdown on Illegal Betting: 16 Suspects Arrested

A major operation against illegal betting networks was conducted ahead of the World Cup final match. In Istanbul, 16 individuals were taken into custody as part of the investigation.The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office for Illegal Betting and Sports Crimes, along with the Istanbul Police Department's Cybercrime Unit, conducted joint operations to apprehend the suspects. During the operation, technical and physical surveillance were used, and with the help of AI-powered AVCI program and field intelligence, 19 external financial houses and 23 suspects were identified.Simultaneous raids were carried out at addresses where betting site accounts were found, along with phones, cards, and physical cash, resulting in the arrest of 16 suspects. Those detained were taken to the police station.Efforts are ongoing to capture the remaining 7 fugitive suspects.