Eight detained in nationwide illegal embryo trade operation across 14 provinces
Authorities detained 44 suspects in simultaneous raids on 19 October, with eight remanded in custody and 36 placed under judicial control.

KEY POINTS
- Raids took place in 14 provinces on 19 October 2026
- 44 suspects were detained in total
- Eight suspects were remanded in custody
- 36 suspects were placed under judicial control
- Eight suspects remain at large
Turkish authorities carried out simultaneous raids across 14 provinces on 19 October 2026 targeting an illegal embryo trading network based in Istanbul. The operation covered Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Adana, Antalya, Tekirdag, Giresun, Aydin, Edirne, Kocaeli, Sakarya, Sanliurfa, Karaman and Mugla.
The Istanbul Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office coordinated the investigation through its Terror and Organized Crime Investigation Bureau. Suspects were accused of establishing and joining a criminal organization, organ and tissue trafficking, and opposing Law No. 2238.
“The court remanded eight suspects in custody and imposed judicial control on 36 others.”
Investigators initially detained 36 suspects. Further work led to the capture of eight more, raising the total number of detainees to 44. Security forces also seized a large amount of digital material during the raids.
According to prosecutors, suspects examined people in Turkey to obtain embryos from local donors and started drug treatment. Suitable donors were then sent abroad to clinics in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Albania and Georgia for embryo collection.
On 22 October, 43 suspects gave statements while present and one suspect gave a statement from a penal execution institution. One suspect was released after questioning.
The court remanded eight suspects in custody and imposed judicial control on 36 others. Police are continuing efforts to locate eight suspects who remain at large.
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