Istanbul’s Crime Balance Sheet: ₺320bn in Assets Seized as Drug Use Shifts to Synthetics

Summary:

New data released by Istanbul Governor Davut Gül show a sharp escalation in law enforcement activity over the past three years, with authorities seizing more than ₺320bn ($10bn+) in criminal assets and significantly expanding operations against organised crime, smuggling, and narcotics. While shootings and violent incidents have declined and clearance rates improved, officials warn that drug use—particularly synthetic pills and cannabis—has surged, underscoring a changing criminal landscape in Türkiye’s largest city.

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Organised Crime: Operations and Seizures Surge

Istanbul Governor Davut Gül said organised crime operations have accelerated markedly since 2023.

• Operations: 211 (2023), 337 (2024), 416 (2025)

• Suspects detained: from 2,683 (2023) to 4,949 (2025)

• Arrests: up 163%, from 1,184 to 3,119

• Criminal organisations targeted: increased from 92 to 162

The most striking figure was asset seizures. Authorities confiscated ₺318bn in 2025, up from ₺9.5bn in 2023. Gül said the campaign is ongoing: “There may still be groups not yet targeted, but the determination continues.”

Shootings Down, Clearance Rates Up

Violent incidents involving shootings at workplaces and residences fell 50% year-on-year, according to the governor. At the same time, clearance rates jumped from 66.8% to 93.4%, reflecting improved investigative capacity and coordination.

Smuggling: Fewer Cases, Stronger Files

Smuggling operations rose modestly to 3,814 in 2025 from 3,699 in 2023. Arrests increased sharply—from 98 to 271—as security forces built stronger evidentiary cases.

Seizures climbed across several categories:

• Fuel: +23%

• Alcohol: +103%

• Cigarettes: +164%

Gül said the focus has shifted from headline numbers to “substantive operations with robust evidence,” driving higher detention rates.

Drugs: Fewer Opiates, Explosion in Pills

Drug enforcement activity expanded rapidly:

• Operations: +44% (to 11,316)

• Suspects detained: +46% (to 18,385)

• Arrests: +63% (to 9,115)

• Judicial supervision: +94%

While seizures of heroin and related opiates fell 10%, authorities reported a dramatic rise in other substances:

• Synthetic pills: +310%

• Cannabis: +240%

Overall, the quantity of drugs seized rose by more than 280%. Officials say dealers and users are increasingly shifting to alternative narcotics, particularly synthetics.

Prevention Efforts Expand

Preventive programmes were also scaled up. The “Narcotics Police Mother” initiative—running for five to six years—expanded outreach from 258,267 to 656,455 mothers. School-area inspections increased from 91,454 to 109,619, reflecting concerns about youth exposure to synthetic drugs.