Interior Minister Çiftçi Vows Continued Operations Against Stock Manipulation

Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi stated on September 17 that police operations targeting alleged stock market manipulation will continue indefinitely. Speaking on TGRT Haber, Çiftçi said raids took place earlier that day and more could follow by morning, adding "the state does not forget, does not sleep."

The Capital Markets Board (SPK) initiated a liquidation process for 130 investment funds on September 16. Prosecutors detained Pusula Portfolio Chairman Muhammet Yarız and placed Namık Kemal Gökalp, İbrahim Bekçi, and Altunç Kumova under custody. A travel ban was imposed on 48 individuals, including Tera Investment Technology Holding Chairman Emre Tezmen and KatılımEvim Chairman Serdar Turhan.

“Operations will continue. Today there was an operation. Tomorrow by morning there may be another. The state does not forget, does not sleep.”

Çiftçi reported that security forces conducted 1,592 operations against 562 organized crime groups in the first eight months of 2026, detaining 6,916 suspects. He added that 657 fugitives were extradited from 44 countries, including 107 organized crime leaders or members.

On financial crimes, the minister said authorities carried out 10,064 operations, detained 22,185 people, and arrested 2,386. Seizures included 13,782 checks and promissory notes, 846 bank and credit cards, 161 POS devices, and 14.3 million lira in cash. Separately, 1,040 usury operations led to 3,156 detentions, 674 arrests, and the recovery of 11.7 million lira for victims.