Turkey detains eight over attempt to kidnap, smuggle former Iranian soldier

Turkey's National Intelligence Organization (MİT) and police have detained eight people, including two Iranian agents, over their attempt attempted to kidnap a former Iranian soldier and smuggle him back to Iran, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Oct. 13.

Thursday October 14 2021 12:13 am

Anadolu Agency

Turkey's National Intelligence Organization (MT) and police busted an Iranian espionage network in the eastern province of Van, security sources said on Oct. 13.

Footage released on Oct. 13 shows the moments of a joint operation conducted by MİT and police on Sept. 24, when eight-member network that included two Iranian agents were caught.

The Iranian intelligence officers were found to be trying to create a network with a budget of $30,000 in Van to abduct a former Iranian soldier, identified only by the initials M.A., to Iran.

The members of the network, who were followed closely by MİT, were ordered by Iranian Intelligence officers to offer M.A.’s wife $10,000 to help them in abduction.

It was found that the wife, identified only by the initials M.E., was threatened by the network that her family living in Iran will be harmed if she refused.

The MİT and police caught the network members red-handed after they were sent to Van to abduct M.A to Iran via vehicle.

At around 9.00 p.m. local time on Sept. 24, a Turkish citizen, identified by initials M.E.A, and an Iranian citizen, identified as S.S., who tried to enter the residence to kidnap the former Iranian soldier, were arrested.

In the ongoing operation, six other Turkish citizens were also caught.