Turkish law enforcement agencies conducted a large-scale operation in Istanbul against a spy network working for the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Modern.az reports that the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued an official statement regarding this.
According to the Prosecutor's Office, the operation was carried out as a result of coordinated activities between the Istanbul Security Directorate's Anti-Terrorism Branch and the National Intelligence Organization (MİT). Within the scope of the investigations, the deciphering of “political or military espionage” activities was targeted.
How were the espionage activities conducted?
According to the investigation materials, the UAE's intelligence service collected information through numbers obtained from a GSM company operating in Turkey and fake profiles linked to those numbers.
The target categories collected in relation to espionage were as follows:
- Senior officials working in critical positions in the defense industry sector in Turkey
- The telephone line used by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Biographical information about official representatives of some foreign countries in Turkey and individuals working in critical posts.
It is reported that information collected via the obtained GSM numbers at the instruction of UAE intelligence officers was transferred to the United Arab Emirates. Four individuals found to be connected with these activities and in communication with each other have been identified.
During the operation conducted by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, 3 of the spies were detained in Turkey, while the other 1 person was determined to be abroad, and an arrest warrant was issued for them.
The Prosecutor's Office stated in its announcement regarding the incident that the operation aims to fully expose the espionage activities and neutralize the network.
