The Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Department (KOM) of the Turkish Security General Directorate and "EUROPOL" (European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation) coordinated an operation conducted simultaneously in 5 European countries, during which the cigarette smuggling and money laundering mechanism of the criminal organization known as "Baybaşin," referred to as the "Pablo Escobar of Europe," was uncovered.
It was reported that a large-scale operation covering 6 countries was carried out against the criminal organization known as the "Baybaşins," which operates illegally throughout Europe.
According to the obtained information, the operation was supported by law enforcement agencies of Italy, Poland, France, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland. Within the scope of the process closely monitored by the Turkish Ministry of Interior, the cigarette smuggling network of the criminal organization in Europe and the trace of the proceeds from the crime were pursued.
As a result, the financial map of the criminal network was drawn. During investigations, it was determined that the organization's leader Hasan Ferhat Baybaşin and the organization's manager Çağdaş Duran laundered large amounts of illegal profits obtained from cigarette smuggling in Turkey. It was revealed that the money obtained from the crime was legalized through two companies operating in Diyarbakır and luxurious real estate investments in the Aydın province.
Security forces that took action within the investigation dealt a significant blow to the financial wing of the operation. By court order, the shares of 9 suspects in the company in Diyarbakır, all real estate and vehicles in the Aydın province, all deposits in bank accounts, as well as rights and receivables with crypto asset service providers were confiscated./Oxu.az