From 'Acid Baron' to 'Baronica'... Dirty profile solved: Operation in 13 provinces based in Istanbul; 47 detained

Details of the operation carried out by the Anti-Narcotic Crimes and Intelligence Branch Directorates, directed by Istanbul Police Chief Selami Yıldız, and supported by the Anti-Narcotic Crimes Directorate, Interpol-Europol Department and Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) under the coordination of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, against the international drug crime organization, in which 47 suspects were detained, have emerged.

The police teams, who deciphered the messages of the international drug crime organization communicating via the encrypted SkyECC platform together with the "Joint Investigation Team" and revealed their identities, identified the suspects called "barons", especially those who were in charge of heroin production.

It was revealed that the ringleaders, including hotel, oil, logistics, jeweler and foreign exchange office operators, who were responsible for tons of drugs seized in Germany, the Netherlands, Iran, North Macedonia and Türkiye, provided aid to those in need and participated in social activities to hide their crimes.

A "BARON" IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERY STAGE

As a result of meticulous studies, police teams determined that all the ringleaders of the drug crime organization they detained were responsible at some stage.

It was determined that E.I, who was described as "acid baron" by the teams, took the raw materials he procured from Europe to Iran, where he produced heroin, and that E.H was responsible for bringing the drugs to Türkiye, and that the suspect organized the drugs to be brought to the country from Hakkari's Yüksekova district by mules.

It is suspected that the drugs smuggled into the country were taken to the western provinces by C.G. The teams determined that the poison produced was later delivered to G.D., known as "Sister", and stored.

H.C. is under the control of N.A., known as the "baronise", who is responsible for the international shipment of drugs. It was sent to European countries by M.A. It was revealed that the suspect named made the distribution in the Netherlands.

Within the scope of the operation carried out after all detection and studies, bank accounts and crypto assets belonging to 163 people, most of which belonged to so-called barons, worth 7 billion 657 million lira, crypto assets, 556 real estate, 155 motor vehicles and partnership shares in 71 companies were seized.

OPERATION

Istanbul narcotics police had determined during the studies that the criminal organization operating at the international level organized the production, shipment and distribution of drugs in different countries and provinces.

It was determined that the ringleaders of the organization were involved in the organization of drug trade, the supply of chemical substances, and the transportation and logistics processes of international shipments. By examining the encrypted communication data, the connections between the international supply and shipment activities of the organization and the domestic distribution network were revealed, and it was determined that the suspects were connected to the drug trade of a total of 10 tons and 100 kilograms.

In order to capture the identified suspects, 42 suspects were caught in a simultaneous operation carried out in 13 provinces on October 13, with the participation of 2 thousand personnel.

As the investigation continued, 5 more suspects were detained, increasing the number of suspects to 47.