Turkish law enforcement agencies conducted a major operation as part of an investigation into an alleged financial and criminal structure linked to the religious community widely known in Turkey as Süleymancılar.
The investigation is being conducted by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. It focuses on Alihan Kuriş and people who investigators believe were part of a hierarchical financial and commercial structure formed around him.
Procedural measures are being taken against 49 suspects in total. Thirty people, including Alihan Kuriş, were detained during simultaneous operations.
Law enforcement agencies are continuing to search for the remaining suspects. Some of those involved are outside Turkey, according to available information.
Searches conducted at 123 addresses
The operation was conducted simultaneously in 17 Turkish provinces, including Istanbul, Ankara and Antalya.
Law enforcement agencies carried out searches and seizures at 123 addresses. Forty-three of the addresses were directly linked to suspects, while another 80 belonged to 33 companies included in the investigation.
Investigators and financial authorities are examining the seized financial records, corporate documents and digital materials.
Investigation covers five main areas
The suspects are being investigated on allegations of establishing and leading a criminal organization, membership in a criminal organization, laundering assets obtained through crime, fraud causing losses to public institutions, and violations of Turkish tax legislation.
At the same time, Turkey's Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) conducted an extensive analysis of the financial activities of individuals and legal entities that investigators believe may be linked to the alleged structure.
MASAK examined companies' financial transactions
Information made public about the investigation indicates that MASAK specialists identified a significant increase in the financial transactions and commercial activity of several companies, particularly since 2020.
Investigators also focused on the division and transfer of certain companies, after which new legal entities with substantial capital were established.
Large cash inflows into companies, capital increases, transfers between affiliated businesses and other financial transactions are also being examined.
Investigators are determining whether transfers between the companies corresponded to genuine commercial activity and whether fictitious invoices may have been used in some transactions.
Financial transactions exceeding 100 billion Turkish liras under review
One of the most prominent lines of inquiry concerns financial transactions exceeding 100 billion Turkish liras.
Turkish media reported, citing financial audit materials, that authorities are investigating claims that funds exceeding 100 billion liras linked to the individuals and companies under review may have been transferred abroad through various means.
The prosecution and financial authorities are determining the origin of the funds involved in transactions by individuals and legal entities, the destinations of transfers abroad and whether the funds may be linked to criminal proceeds.
The investigation is ongoing, and these circumstances have not yet been conclusively established as facts by a court.
Searches conducted at 33 companies; 32 companies named
The corporate scale of the investigation has drawn particular attention.
Law enforcement agencies conducted searches and seizures at 80 addresses belonging to 33 companies. Materials made public named 32 companies being examined for alleged financial or commercial links to the structure under investigation.
The companies operate in a wide range of sectors, including construction, real estate, food production, textiles, healthcare, tourism, automotive, jewelry, maritime transport, agriculture, electronics and security systems.
List of 32 companies included in the investigation
The published list of companies whose financial and commercial links are being examined by investigators includes:
- ELF Yapı Anonim Şirketi
- Altun Mimarlık İnşaat Ticaret Anonim Şirketi
- Güldeniz İnşaat Anonim Şirketi
- Ardeniz Emlak Anonim Şirketi
- Garanti Gayrimenkul Geliştirme Ticaret Limited Şirketi
- Arden Gıda İnşaat Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Şirketi
- ŞMS Kopuz Gıda Pazarlama ve Sanayi Ticaret Anonim Şirketi
- Tasfiye Halinde TEB Denizcilik Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Şirketi
- Özgür Giyim Tekstil Ürünleri Ticaret ve Sanayi Anonim Şirketi
- Armine Giyim Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi
- Hisar Sağlık Hizmetleri Eğitim-Araştırma ve Tıbbi Cihazlar İnşaat Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi
- Ayakkabı Dünyası Kundura Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi
- Akdeniz Toros Et ve Et Mamülleri Sanayi ve Dış Ticaret Anonim Şirketi
- İstanbul Hisar Turizm ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi
- MKM Taş Ocağı Hafriyat İnşaat Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi
- Perka Yapı İnşaat Sanayi Ticaret Anonim Şirketi
- Günso İnşaat Gıda Eğitim ve Yurt Hizmetleri Ticaret ve Sanayi Anonim Şirketi
- Seli Kaynak ve Meyve Suları İşletmeleri Sanayi Ticaret Anonim Şirketi
- MKM Otomotiv Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Şirketi
- Asya Otomotiv ve Tekstil Pazarlama Ticaret Limited Şirketi
- MKM Elektronik Ekipmanları ve Güvenlik Sistemleri Sanayi Ticaret Limited Şirketi
- Seli Turizm Otelcilik İnşaat Ticaret Anonim Şirketi
- Ada Nakış Desen Dokuma Giyim İmalat Ticaret ve Sanayi Limited Şirketi
- Verona Ev Tekstil Ürünleri Ticaret ve Pazarlama Anonim Şirketi
- Ada Dokuma İmalat Sanayi Ticaret Limited Şirketi
- Güleryüz Kuyumculuk Turizm ve Otomotiv Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi
- Asya Süs Bitkileri Fidancılık ve Tarım İşletmeleri Pazarlama Ticaret Limited Şirketi
- Sakarya Üniversitesi Teknoloji Geliştirme Bölgeleri Yönetici Anonim Şirketi
- Han Yapı Grubu Mühendislik Mimarlık İnşaat Turizm Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Şirketi
- Bolu Yıldız Eğitim İnşaat Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi
- Doğu Marmara Avrupa Birliği İş Geliştirme Merkezi (ABİGEM) Anonim Şirketi
- Göknur Gıda Maddeleri Enerji İmalat İthalat İhracat Ticaret ve Sanayi Anonim Şirketi
Ayakkabı Dünyası, Armine and Göknur Gıda among the best-known companies
The presence of several well-known Turkish companies on the published list drew particular public attention.
They include Ayakkabı Dünyası Kundura Sanayi ve Ticaret AŞ, which operates in footwear retail, and Armine Giyim Sanayi ve Ticaret AŞ, a well-known company in the clothing and textile sector.
The list also includes Göknur Gıda Maddeleri Enerji İmalat İthalat İhracat Ticaret ve Sanayi AŞ, which operates in the food industry.
The investigation also mentions businesses operating in healthcare, tourism, construction, automotive, textiles, jewelry, agriculture and security technologies.
The mere mention of a company in the investigation materials does not establish its criminal liability.
Investigators examine links between companies
Possible links between the businesses have become another important focus of the investigation.
Financial authorities identified cases in which companies with different names and business activities used identical or interconnected addresses, according to available information.
Investigators are therefore examining the companies' ownership structures, shareholders and executives, capital movements, registered addresses, and financial and commercial transactions between the businesses.
The central question is whether the companies operated independently or formed part of a broader interconnected financial structure.
Companies operate across a wide range of economic sectors
The published list shows that the commercial links being examined cover numerous industries.
These include construction and real estate, textiles and clothing manufacturing, footwear, food and beverage production, healthcare, tourism and hospitality, automotive, jewelry, maritime activities, agriculture, electronics, security systems and technological development.
MASAK is therefore examining the movement of money and goods between the businesses and possible financial links among companies from different sectors.
International financial links also under examination
Possible foreign links to the alleged structure constitute a separate line of inquiry.
As part of the review of transactions exceeding 100 billion Turkish liras, authorities are seeking to establish which countries and accounts may have received the funds, who the recipients were, and whether foreign companies or other entities took part in the transactions.
A major property in Cologne, Germany, has also drawn attention.
Turkey's Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi said that the structure built a center in Cologne costing approximately $70 million.
Possible financial links between the overseas activities and the companies and individuals under investigation in Turkey are also being examined.
Investigation focuses on alleged financial and criminal violations
Information released in connection with the operation indicates that the investigation primarily targets the alleged criminal, financial and commercial activities of Alihan Kuriş and people linked to him, rather than the religious or social activities of everyone who identifies with the Süleymancılar community.
The alleged structure is described in the investigation materials as the “Alihan Kuriş criminal organization.”
Investigative proceedings against the detainees are continuing. Law enforcement agencies are also searching for the remaining suspects and continuing to examine the companies' financial records.
New information is expected to emerge as the investigation develops regarding MASAK's findings, transfers of money abroad, links between the companies and possible judicial measures against individuals and legal entities.
All allegations and claims concerning the individuals and companies mentioned are part of an ongoing investigation. Being named in the case materials or being subject to an examination does not constitute a finding of guilt. Only a court can issue a final decision.
