Guns, Fear, and Fast Cash: Inside Istanbul’s New Mafia

Istanbul is facing a new wave of organized crime dominated by younger, more violent street gangs. These so-called “new-generation mafias” — including groups linked to Barış Boyun and the Daltonlar — are reshaping daily life in several working-class neighborhoods, according to a BBC Turkish investigation by Mahmut Hamsici. The report paints a stark picture: gunfire echoing through narrow streets, shopkeepers living in fear, and impoverished youth drawn into a fast-money underworld.

Neighborhoods Living in Fear

In Sultangazi’s Zübeyde Hanım neighborhood, local shopkeeper Hüseyin says life has changed dramatically:

“In the past, when we heard gunshots, we thought it was a wedding. Now we ask, ‘Which gang is shooting at which?’”

He now walks his children to school, holding their hands tightly. In Bahçelievler Yenibosna, a resident named Tekin adds, “I’ve never seen Istanbul this criminal before.”

Extortion and Violence Against Small Businesses

The primary victims of these armed gangs are small business owners. Indictments and police files show that many shopkeepers are being extorted for “protection money,” “street fees,” or so-called “convict support payments.” Those who refuse are often attacked by motorcycle-riding gunmen who fire into shops at night.

In Gazi Mahallesi, textile shop owner Ekber says loan-sharking and armed debt collection have become common. “If you can’t pay, bullets start flying,” he notes. Another local, Haydar, says many shopkeepers now call the police to wait in front of their stores “just in case.”

Meanwhile, Tekin from Yenibosna points out that many of those targeted are “gray-area businessmen” — wealthy individuals involved in semi-illegal trade — and gangs see them as profitable prey: “They just want a cut.”

Deadly Turf Wars and Public Fear

Violent clashes between rival groups are now routine. In one such conflict, a stray bullet killed 15-year-old Büşra Polat last year in Sultangazi. Residents say this tragedy deepened their sense of helplessness and fear.

In Esenyurt, a young woman named Berna says she abandoned plans to open a restaurant after hearing that “a famous pastry shop was sprayed with bullets.” She describes an atmosphere of anxiety: “At night, there are so many young men on motorcycles. You can’t tell who’s who anymore. I call a taxi even for short distances.”

The Fall of Political Identity and Rise of the “Fast Money” Generation

Interestingly, these gangs are emerging in districts once dominated by left-wing political movements, such as Nurtepe and Gazi. Locals say that after the Gezi protests and the 2016 coup attempt, security crackdowns weakened the old political networks — creating a vacuum filled by criminal groups.

“Back when revolutionary groups were strong, there was no drug dealing or prostitution,” says Ekber. “Now, there are dealers on every corner.” Some former members of illegal leftist organizations have reportedly joined these new crime syndicates after losing their ideological footing.

Ahmet, an engineer from Kağıthane, summarizes the social decay:

“In the past, young people here looked up to leftist activists. Now, they have no role models left.”

No Ideology, Just Profit

Unlike older crime organizations with ideological leanings, these “new-generation mafias” are apolitical and multi-ethnic. Tekin from Yenibosna notes, “You see fewer nationalists now. Some are from Kurdish or Alevi families, but they’re all criminals.” Haydar adds, “Even ex-leftists now post gray-wolf symbols. They have no line, no code.”

The main driver, everyone agrees, is poverty. Özge from Kağıthane says, “It’s no coincidence that all these kids come from poor neighborhoods. They’ve given up on achieving anything honestly.” Tekin adds that it’s not just poverty — drugs, hopelessness, and moral collapse all play a role:

“There used to be a code, a kind of honor. That’s gone. They’ll execute a man in front of his pregnant wife now.”

The Drug Economy: “Peçete” and Motorcycle Dealers

According to the 2025 Turkish National Police Drug Report, seizures of synthetic drugs have increased 227% in one year. Residents say narcotics are now delivered through mobile apps and motorcycle couriers. In Gazi, Ekber explains that gangs use young women as couriers to avoid suspicion. A new synthetic drug known as “peçete” (the tissue) is reportedly spreading fast among teens.

A Grim Ending for Many

In Piripaşa, Cüneyt tells the story of two friends who got involved with such groups — one became a hitman, the other was murdered by rivals in his own café. “The money blinded their families,” he says.

Residents and experts also blame TV shows and social media for glamorizing mafia life. Tekin concludes bitterly:

“These kids think it’s a game. They live as if they’ll never die. But for them, this world only ends two ways — the coffin or the prison.”