Fugitive crypto exchange founder Ozer extradited to Türkiye

ISTANBUL

Crypto money exchange Thodex's founder Faruk Fatih Ozer, who was extradited to Türkiye by the Albanian Ministry of Justice, was brought to Istanbul on Thursday.

The plane carrying Ozer, whose extradition to Türkiye was decided by the Durres Court of Appeals in Albania, took off from the Albanian capital Tirana in the morning and landed at Istanbul Airport at 10:15 a.m.

Istanbul Airport Police Department took custody of Ozer on arrival.

Ozer, who was taken to the police station, is expected to undergo a health check-up and be taken to the campus of the Istanbul Police Department.

Arrest, extradition process

Wanted on a red notice, Ozer was caught in Albania on Aug. 30, 2022.

The decision of the Elbasan Court of First Instance in Albania on the continuation of Ozer's detention on Sept. 2, 2022, was appealed by his lawyers on Sept. 14, 2022.

The Durres Court of Appeals upheld the court ruling on Ozer's detention on Sept. 20.

At the hearing on Nov. 17, 2022, the Elbasan Court of First Instance declared that the request of the Elbasan Prosecutor's Office "to allow Ozer to be extradited to Türkiye" was accepted, and Ozer appealed this verdict on Dec. 7, 2022.

At the hearing held on Dec. 30, 2022, at the Durres Court of Appeals, the verdict regarding the extradition of Ozer to Türkiye was upheld.

A red notice was issued for Ozer on April 23, 2021, by Interpol.

Ozer, 27, sought on charges of fraud and founding a criminal organization, fled Türkiye last year and left investors unable to get their funds.

Türkiye issued an international arrest warrant after he fled with a reported $2 billion in money investors poured into Thodex.