CHP lawmaker displays 20-meter list of int’l fugitives caught in Turkey in parliament

Duvar English

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy Cevdet Akay on June 26 opened a 20.5-meter list of international crime syndicate leaders wanted under a red notice and captured in Turkey.

While the discussions on the proposal on the Capital Market Law continued in the parliament’s general assembly, MP Akay took the rostrum to display the list and made a speech on rising organized crime in the country.

He stated, "Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) officials are also present here (in the parliament). What are the connections of these crime organizations in Turkey, and what are the bank activities of the individuals involved?"

Akay noted that Turkey was placed on the grey list in 2021 for falling behind in the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing. He added that the enactment of the amendment proposal for the capital market law was particularly important in terms of changing the country’s grey list status.

"The only remaining criterion for us to exit the grey list out of the 40 criteria is the regulation related to cryptocurrency markets. We hope to exit the grey list after this bill passes through the parliament before the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) meeting on June 28,” the MP underscored.

Akay highlighted that he shared the same list in December 2023 as well when it was only 4.5 meters.

"Now, this list is about 20 meters long, and I do not want it to tear. This list demonstrates the good work of our Interior Ministry, our police forces, and our security forces. These criminal organizations and drug lords have been caught; they were roaming freely in our country, and we thank them for their efforts," he said.

Akay later called authorities to reveal the connections of these international crime syndicates in Turkey. 

FATF was set up by the G7 group of advanced economies to protect the global financial system. It grey-listed Turkey in October 2021 for failing to supervise its banking, real estate, and other sectors vulnerable to money laundering and financing groups such as Islamic State and al Qaeda that are on the United Nations' sanctions list.

Turkey was recorded as the country with the highest level of organized crime in Europe, according to the 2023 report of the Global Organized Crime Index.

G-7's task force on money laundering visited Turkey before 'grey list' decisionEconomy

Turkey to strengthen regulations on crypto assets to secure removal from int'l crime watchdog's 'grey list'Economy

Turkey takes top spot in Europe in organized crime indexDomestic