FERİT ZENGİN, ÇİĞDEM YILMAZ, NESLİHAN KESKİN News Center - Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek, who announced the "price journey from field to market" investigation on his NSosyal account yesterday, stated that the "price journey from field to market" was put under the spotlight in the investigation carried out by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. He stated that within the scope of the investigation, the Market Registration System data from the Ministry of Commerce and the Farmer Registration System data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry were obtained, and a comprehensive report was prepared by the Tax Inspection Board of the Ministry of Treasury and Finance.
Farmers' statements were received
Within the scope of the investigation carried out by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office within the scope of the crimes of "Influencing Prices" regulated in Article 237 of the Turkish Penal Code and "Laundering of Asset Values Arising from Crime" regulated in Article 282 of the Turkish Penal Code
Other financial units also supported the operation carried out by the teams of the Financial Crimes Department, under the coordination of the Organized Crimes Investigation Bureau. The report prepared by the Tax Inspection Board inspectors, who consulted the statements of 1029 farmers regarding the prices, formed the backbone of the investigation.
They manipulated prices
In the reports dated July 14, 2026 and September 3, 2026, it was determined that some suppliers operating in the fresh vegetable and fruit sector manipulated prices upwards by various methods. The farmers, whose information and statements were taken, were asked at what price and in what way they sold the vegetables and fruits they produced to suppliers. The farmers' statements were compared with the books and documents regarding the product purchases and sales of the suspects as suppliers. In addition, information and reports were requested from the Competition Board, the Ministry of Commerce and the Market Directorates of Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Mersin and Antalya Metropolitan Municipalities regarding the transaction volumes of the suspects in the fresh vegetable and fruit trade.
207 companies are being investigated
In this context, it was noted that companies whose total goods purchases are based on producer receipts (receipts from producers who are not taxpayers) for at least 70 percent of their total goods purchases and companies whose documented purchase amount from producers is 300 million liras or more are considered in the risky taxpayer group, and 207 companies were included in the scope of the research in line with the determined criteria.
It was evaluated that some companies declared low profitability compared to their gross sales, issued fake or misleading producer receipts, and there were incompatibilities between inventory records and the Market Registration System, thus causing upward manipulation of prices in the market and causing the consumer to face higher prices.
Operation in 22 provinces
In line with the information, documents and reports obtained, operations were carried out yesterday in 22 provinces centered in Istanbul to capture 41 middlemen. In simultaneous raids on 109 addresses, including workplaces and residences, 38 of the 41 suspects were caught and detained, and a large number of digital materials, invoices, delivery notes and producer receipts were seized for examination.
In the records of a company examined, it was revealed that it issued receipts in the names of people who claimed that they did not sell goods, and that receipts were issued in the names of 27 different people who lost their lives.
'It reaches the consumer exponentially'
Güngör Levent, who has been a farmer for many years, said, "The producer already sells his product at very low prices. Today, I gave my grapes to a business for 62 liras per kilo. Almost all grape enterprises give the same price. On the other hand, raisins go up to 250-300 liras in the markets. Tomatoes for tomato paste are bought by factories for 2-3 liras per kilo. When withholding tax, tax and other deductions are deducted, the farmer is left with almost nothing in the field. "A product that costs 5 lira per kilo is sold for at least 50-60 lira in the market or market. Of course, there are transportation, taxes and other expenses, but it is not possible to explain such a big difference. After all, neither the farmer nor the citizen can buy the product at an affordable price," he said.
They said, 'We did not sell any goods'
Agricultural Products Industry. Tic. Ltd. Ltd. In the report prepared on the subject, some of the people whose statements were taken said that they did not sell any goods to the company, while some people stated that they sold different amounts than the amounts stated in the receipts.
They inflated the prices
Ali Karakaya, one of the farmers whose statements were taken, said, "I sold the capia peppers included in the producer receipts issued in my name to İsmail Derin, who acted on behalf of this company. However, I sold the capia peppers to this company for an average kilogram unit price of 11.50 TL at most. They issued a receipt showing the unit price as an average of 18.70 TL in the producer receipts."
Cihat Salur also stated, "I sold the capia peppers, which were included in the producer receipts issued in my name, to İsmail Derin, who acted on behalf of this company. However, I sold the capia peppers to this company for an average kilogram unit price of 8-9 TL at most. They issued receipts showing the unit prices as 18.70-23.95 TL in the producer receipts."
Inconsistency in the state registration system
In the tax inspection report of a company, it was determined that a total of 13 million 488 thousand 581 kilograms of lemons, tangerines, pomegranates and oranges were sold through invoices in the period of January, February and March 2026, but a total of 8 million 384 thousand 428 kilograms of product sales were reported to the Market Registration System. For this reason, it was noted in the report that there was a serious incompatibility between the company's records and the Market Registration System data.
'I hope this will be a milestone'
