Within the scope of the investigation carried out by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the crime of laundering assets resulting from crime, operations were expanded against the structure considered to be managed by Mehmet Fatih Tançalan, known to the public as "Vanlı Kara Haydar".
Money worth 1 billion 541 million 395 thousand TL was seized during the search carried out at a workplace in Antalya, where Hakkı Doğan, who was arrested within the scope of the investigation, stated in his statement. It was learned that investigations are continuing to determine the source of the seized money, its authenticity and its connection with the crime.
A large amount of cash was also found in previous operations carried out by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office within the scope of the investigation. During the searches carried out in two vehicles in Istanbul on September 26, 2026, 16 million 440 thousand euros and 700 thousand US dollars were seized, and it was stated that the money was worth approximately 934 million TL at the exchange rate of that date.
Together with the money amounting to 1 billion 541 million 395 thousand TL found in Antalya in the last operation, the nominal total of the money seized within the scope of the investigation, calculated based on the announced TL values, increased to 2 billion 475 million 395 thousand TL. Thus, the total amount of cash seized approached approximately 2.5 billion TL.
A remarkable new detail has emerged regarding the large amount of foreign currency seized within the scope of the investigation. It was learned that some of the money in the suspects' possession was fake dollars and euros.
It was stated that investigations are continuing to determine the amount of banknotes in question and in which transactions they may have been used. The presence of fake banknotes among the seized foreign currency is also important in terms of allegations that the suspects obtained money from people by showing large amounts of cash.
It was learned that the investigation was initiated upon the complaint of a person who applied to the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. The complainant declared that money of unknown origin was brought into the country by illegal methods and transferred within the country.
The complainant also stated that Mehmet Fatih Tançalan showed him a large amount of cash during the video calls, gained his trust by this method and defrauded him by taking money from him.
Hakkı Doğan, for whom an arrest warrant was issued within the scope of the investigation, was caught and detained. In his statement, Doğan claimed that Tançalan was involved in transferring money within the country, which he claimed was brought from abroad illegally, and that he created the impression that he was transferring money by showing large amounts of foreign currency to various people, and that he received money from people by this method.
After Hakkı Doğan agreed to show the places where the money was hidden, a search was carried out in two cars in Istanbul on September 26, 2026. During the searches, a large amount of euros and US dollars and two cars thought to have been used in the crime were seized.
Hakkı Doğan, who was referred to the Criminal Judgeship of Peace with a request for his arrest after his detention procedures, was arrested. The investigation was expanded in line with the suspect's statement and new findings.
A simultaneous operation was carried out in 5 provinces centered in Ankara on October 6, 2026, against the criminal structure that is considered to be directed by Mehmet Fatih Tançalan. While 10 suspects were caught within the scope of the operation, as the investigation expanded, the money movements and possible connections of people considered to be around Tançalan were also examined.
As part of the investigation, an arrest warrant was issued for İzzet Karataş, Oğuzhan İkiz, Zeynalabedin Tançalan, Ferhat Polat, Nilgün Oya, Ramazan Tuğay, Cemal Kuru and Ozan Demirel, among the suspects who were referred to the Criminal Judgeship of Peace on October 9, 2026.
It was decided to impose judicial control measures on the suspect Fatmanur Tançalan. It was stated that investigations against other suspects, including Çağla Öz Tançalan, Muhammet Sait Tançalan and Emine Çakaner, are continuing within the scope of the investigation. Together with Hakkı Doğan, who was previously arrested, the number of suspects arrested within the scope of the investigation reached 9.
In the investigation carried out by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the source of the large amounts of cash seized, the methods by which they were obtained, their authenticity and the financial connections of the suspects are being investigated.
Investigations to be carried out to determine the total amount of foreign currencies stated to be fake are also important for the investigation. On the other hand, studies continue to determine whether the suspects victimized other people with similar methods.
The investigation is being continued in all its aspects by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.
