ANKARA

In a cross-border cigarette smuggling investigation, Turkish authorities, in coordination with Europol, seized the assets of nine suspects linked to the Baybasin organized crime group.

According to information obtained by Anadolu from Interior Ministry sources, who asked not to be named as they were not authorized to speak to the media, law enforcement units from Italy, Poland, France, the UK and Switzerland also participated in the operation.

The group leader and a senior member, identified by the initials H.F.B. and C.D., respectively, allegedly laundered proceeds from cigarette smuggling through two companies based in Türkiye's southeastern province of Diyarbakir and real estate holdings in the western province of Aydin, the sources said.

As part of the investigation, authorities confiscated company shares in Diyarbakir, real estate assets in Aydin, vehicles, bank accounts, and receivables held with crypto asset service providers belonging to the suspects, who were detained abroad.

The Baybasin group is a family-based criminal organization originating from southeastern Türkiye, which has spread its illicit network across Europe.

Its founder, Huseyin Baybasin, is serving a life sentence in the Netherlands on charges including murder and drug trafficking.

*Written by Seyit Kurt from Istanbul