The Istanbul police have said an Israeli-British citizen is on suspicion of being involved in Turkey’s most giant fake money ring. The ring planned to send one billion dollars counterfeit to African countries.
Attorney Mordechai Tzivin, who specializes in representing detainees abroad, Israelis with other citizenships abroad, and Arabs in enemy countries in Interpol matters,
told JBN: “My client, a businessman, normative, law-abiding, who for many years, has never been flawless in his action. I hope and believe that the local authorities will come to the conclusion that my client is indeed free of all suspicion.”
The operation was carried out on Friday by the Istanbul Gendarmerie Command. Dozens of police officers raided a warehouse in Istanbul, where they found boxes full of one billion dollars counterfeit in $100 bills.
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The money was printed in Istanbul and prepared to be sent in cargo boxes to African countries. The suspects entered and left the warehouse at different times, and they often stayed there for long periods of time.
At the same time, local forces also raided the luxury villas of the suspects in the Shishli district and confiscated money and jewelry.
The Israeli consulate was not informed of the arrest because the suspect entered Turkey on his British passport. The Istanbul police said that this was the largest seizure of counterfeit money in one operation in the history of Turkey.
The suspects are facing counterfeiting, money laundering, and organized crime charges. They could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
“We trust the law enforcement authorities in Turkey, a legal, orderly, and fair country,” Adv. Tzivin said.
