In Germany and the Netherlands, 3 Turkish citizens suspected of laundering criminal proceeds by converting them into gold and routing it through Turkey have been detained. Around 450 police and customs officers took part in the simultaneous Europol-supported operation; searches were carried out at approximately 40 homes and businesses in the two countries.
According to a statement by the Cologne and Rotterdam public prosecutor’s offices and police units, the network moved between 1 and 4 tons of gold, with a value ranging from 55 million to 210 million euros, to Turkey over six years. Old and scrap gold purchased from jewelers linked to the cash was melted down and turned into bars; specially prepared vehicles were used for the road shipments. It was stated that most of the money was generated through drug trafficking, and that the gold taken to Turkey was reprocessed or used in jewelry purchases.
The investigation began in October 2023, when more than 55 kilograms of gold and roughly half a million euros were found in a vehicle during a highway check in Bavaria. In the latest operation, 800 grams of melted gold, 12 vehicles, a motorcycle and smuggling compartments were seized. Those arrested are 43, 45 and 46 years old.
Background
Türk is not a new name in the FikirPilot archive: we have published 14 stories featuring this name in the last 90 days; the most recent is dated October 2, 2026.