The region from the Balkans to Malta and Cyprus, is the base for online, illegal, betting, Turkey's Interior Minister, Suleiman Soylu, said, referring to a crackdown operation in which 101 arrests were made.
In statements yesterday at the Antalya Province Security Directorate, accompanied by police directors, Mr. Soylu said that 136 people, including relatives of slain Turkish Cypriot businessman Khalil Falyali, had been identified as organizers of the illegal betting.
As part of the operation, 101 people were arrested and 808 million Turkish lira were seized.
According to Turkish state television, "TRT", referring to online betting, Mr. Soylu said that "the proceeds of these crimes can be used very easily in other countries." He argued that "especially the powerful countries of the world, the countries that are very strong in economy, pretend that they are struggling with this problem," adding that "unfortunately, the region from the Balkans to Malta and Cyprus is the base for virtual betting."
Recalling the Faliali murder that took place in occupied Cyprus on February 3, 2022, Soylu said that after the opening of the investigation into the murder, the Turkish authorities detected activity on the Cyprus-Malta axis.
"We conducted a preliminary operation in October 2022. Again, we launched a new operation as of this morning. In this context, specifically in this organisation, there are 15 betting sites, which are implemented in island countries with a favourable tax regime, originating in Malta," he said.
"It has been established that illegal betting websites that have been set up are trying to move into our country through social media applications, messages sent to GSM phones and calls to call centres, in particular illegal match-fixing websites, and that the number of players who prefer these websites is increasing by providing high bonuses and high betting rates to make players prefer them, and that the number of players is expanding by making room for a wide variety of different gambling games other than illegal betting," the Turkish MFA said.
"With the operation we conducted today (ed: yesterday), 101 people have been arrested so far out of 136 people."
He finally said that "our fight against financial crimes will continue to the end."
Source: CNA
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