The Minister of Interior, Ali Yerlikaya, announced on his social media account that a coordinated effort is being carried out by the Istanbul Republic Prosecutor’s Office, the National Intelligence Organization (MİT), and the Istanbul Provincial Security Directorate’s Intelligence and Counter Terrorism Department to combat espionage activities. Yerlikaya stated that suspects were found to have conducted meetings with Israeli intelligence elements and shared information they compiled about individuals and companies in Turkey that were targets of the intelligence service with Israeli intelligence elements. The Minister reported that 8 individuals were captured in the Mole-3 Operation aimed towards those carrying out espionage activities.
Two of the individuals were arrested and the remaining six were placed under judicial control. Yerlikaya emphasized that the country will not permit espionage activities targeting national unity and solidarity. He praised the efforts of the Istanbul Republic Prosecutor’s Office, MİT personnel, and the police in combating this threat.
The details of the operation coordinated by the Istanbul Republic Prosecutor’s Office and MİT were revealed. The operation conducted by the Istanbul Provincial Security Directorate’s Intelligence and Counter Terrorism Department was initiated following MİT’s discovery that private detective A.E.T and his wife were connected to MOSSAD between 2011-2020. Efforts to dismantle the Tumlucalı and detective network were then initiated.
A.E.T held face-to-face meetings with MOSSAD agents using the pseudonyms Jorg Neubach and Gavin Alto in Austria/Vienna, Switzerland/Zurich, and Germany/Munich-Frankfurt-Berlin. A.E.T received money during the meetings conducted in Austria, Switzerland, and Germany. Under instructions, he engaged in research, reconnaissance, and surveillance activities in Turkey, Georgia, Germany, and Middle Eastern countries. Additionally, he acquired official documents for commercial taxis, trucks, and lorries from Middle Eastern countries for use in MOSSAD operations.
Despite initially suspecting foul play, A.E.T continued to engage with. He took a MOSSAD-related book from Turkey to his first meeting in Vienna with the MOSSAD agent Jorg Neubach and asked if he was a MOSSAD agent, to which Neubach did not provide a direct answer. A.E.T worked for approximately 9 years knowing that his counterparts were MOSSAD agents and earned substantial profits from his endeavors.
Tumlucalı established a network of 9 individuals to fulfill MOSSAD’s instructions. As a result of a joint operation conducted by MİT and the Istanbul Provincial Security Directorate’s Intelligence and Counter Terrorism Department, A.E. Tumlucalı and the network members were taken into custody. The network members admitted to the espionage accusations. Initially, A.E. Tumlucalı and his wife were arrested, while the legal process is ongoing.
Under the directive of MOSSAD member Jorg Neubach using the pseudonym, a surveillance and photography operation was carried out in Istanbul targeting a Middle Eastern individual. A.E.T formed a four-person surveillance team, rented a vehicle, and closely followed the target for two days. The surveillance activity was documented by A.E.T’s wife and sent to Jorg Neubach.
