Turkey nabs 'flatbread mafia' targeting bakeries
Turkish police have arrested a gang that had been attempting to forcibly monopolise the local flatbread market in an operation carried out on Monday.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said in a statement that 38 suspects connected to the so‑called flatbread gang, officially known as the Barıs Turgut Organised Crime Group, were apprehended in Mersin during simultaneous raids at multiple locations.
Yerlikaya said that 17 members of the crime group have been formally arrested, while 19 suspects were placed under judicial control. Proceedings against the remaining individuals are still ongoing.
Authorities have seized 23 vehicles and 85 bank accounts found to have been used for illicit financial activities, with transactions totalling 10.76 bn lira (approximately $358.7 m ) over the past five years.
Yerlikaya said the gang used threats and intimidation against bakery owners in an attempt to monopolise the flatbread market in Mersin.
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“They were involved in two cases of aggravated assault and carried out 10 shooting attacks targeting businesses and individuals producing flatbread,” the minister said.
During the operation, police also seized one long‑barrelled firearm, five unlicensed handguns and one unlicensed hunting rifle.
While Ankara has stepped up its nationwide operations targeting organised crime, particularly those linked to drug trafficking, an operation against a flatbread gang is unprecedented in the country.
Yerlikaya has faced criticism in recent months amid a rise in organised crime‑related attacks targeting local businesses by motorbike‑borne gunmen.
