Turkish mafia dismantled in Italy: Eighteen arrests in Sicily and Viterbo

Last Updated: May 22, 2024

The article discusses the dismantling of a criminal network led by Baris Boyun, a Turkish mafia boss, by the Milan Prosecutor’s Office. The network was involved in various criminal activities including terrorism, illegal weapons possession, drug trafficking, and murder. Boyun, who was one of the most wanted men in Turkey, was arrested in Viterbo. The investigation, which began in October 2023, revealed that Boyun was coordinating the activities of his network in Europe from Italy, directing the smuggling of migrants, ordering murders, and even planning terrorist acts in Europe, particularly in Berlin. The operation involved hundreds of police officers and is still ongoing across Switzerland and Italy. Boyun, who had previously been arrested in 2022, had claimed to be a persecuted political figure of Kurdish origin and had sought international protection in Italy, leading to a dispute between the Italian and Turkish governments over his extradition.