Justice Minister Gürlek announces 28 detained in Izmir fan-group raids, Istanbul theft ring

August 21, 2026 at 12:05 PM2 min

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Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced two coordinated police operations in Istanbul and Izmir on Aug. 21, with 28 suspects detained in the Izmir fan-group case. Istanbul police searched 35 addresses linked to an organized theft ring that targeted tourists at tram stops, stations and crosswalks. Searches in Izmir yielded weapons, ammunition, narcotics pills and other crime items.

Key Facts

Istanbul prosecutors identified 25 separate theft acts by a mostly foreign group of 32 suspects who targeted foreign tourists at tram stops, stations and crosswalks.
The Istanbul group earned about 400,000 Turkish lira per day from roughly 10 theft acts, and police searched 35 addresses simultaneously.
In Izmir, prosecutors identified 59 members across two structures tied to the Forza and Yalı fan groups; 27 were already in prison and 28 of 32 active suspects were detained in raids across four provinces.
The Izmir investigation deepened after Emircan Övüç was shot dead on Sept. 19, 2025, and found eight violent acts between the two groups over about eight months.
Searches in the Izmir operation yielded weapons, ammunition, narcotics pills and other crime items, and four fugitives remain sought.

The Istanbul Theft Ring

Istanbul prosecutors coordinated with Istanbul police to dismantle an organized theft group of 32 suspects, most of them foreign nationals, who operated in tourist areas. The group used squeezing and screening tactics against foreign tourists at tramways, stops and pedestrian crossings, and was linked to 25 separate theft acts. The suspects carried out roughly 10 thefts per day and collected around 400,000 Turkish lira in criminal revenue. Police executed simultaneous searches at 35 addresses in Istanbul to end the structure's activities.

The Izmir Fan-Group Operation

Izmir prosecutors identified two organized crime structures operating inside the Forza and Yalı fan groups, with a total of 59 members. The investigation deepened after Emircan Övüç was shot dead on Sept. 19, 2025, and found eight violent acts between the two groups over about eight months. Of the 59 members, 27 were already in prison, and police detained 28 of 32 active suspects in simultaneous raids across four provinces centered on Izmir. The raids targeted 39 addresses, and four fugitives remain sought; searches yielded weapons, ammunition, narcotics pills and other crime items.