"Snatch & Release": Two Chinese Citizens Fined and Deported for Kidnapping 16 Grasshoppers, at Nemrut Dağı

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Adıyaman Işık Newspaper, 25 August 202&)

                     Caught leaving without an exit visa.

Chinese citizens who came for giant grasshoppers (!) were fined and 

deported.  Two Chinese citizens were caught trying to take 16 

grasshoppers collected from Mount Nemrut to China. The individuals 

were fined 1,557,000 (about  $32.000) and deported.

A notable case of biopiracy occurred on Mount Nemrut, located on the 

border between Malatya and Adıyaman provinces. Police teams on duty 

in the area noticed the two Chinese citizens collecting grasshoppers. 

Upon inspection, it was determined that they were in possession of 16 

grasshoppers. It was established that the grasshoppers were being 

collected illegally and intended for export.

Following the discovery of the incident, the Nature Conservation and 

National Parks teams and security units initiated proceedings. The 

incident was assessed as biopiracy.  

The 16 grasshoppers seized were taken into protective custody (!) by 

the teams and subsequently released back into their natural habitat.

"Snatch & Release": Courier, Missing for a Month After Stealing Gold, Nabbed in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 25 August 2026)

             "Hmmmm, maybe today is my lucky day!"

On July 26th, in Şişli, Istanbul, Deniz B. (30), who was working as a 

courier at a jewelry store, was given approximately 2 million lira by 

the shop owner, Mustafa K., to pick up gold and foreign currency from 

the contracted businesses. Deniz B. left the workplace on a motorcycle 

and went to the contracted jewelers in Kağıthane to pick up the gold 

and foreign currency.

However (!), after some time, the GPS device on the motorcycle used 

by Deniz B. lost its location information. The business owner, Mustafa K., 

tried to contact the courier by phone but couldn't reach him, so he 

contacted the jewelers they had an agreement with. During this contact, 

Mustafa K. learned that Deniz B. had received the gold and foreign 

currency and reported the situation to the police, filing a complaint. 

A month later, his unlucky day...

Police teams launched an investigation, which revealed that the 

motorcycle,  belonging to the business and used by Deniz B., last 

signaled around 5:30 PM from in front of a parking lot. Teams went to 

the area and found the motorcycle abandoned. It was determined that 

Deniz B. left the area after abandoning the motorcycle.

Teams from the Kağıthane Public Security Bureau determined that 

Deniz B. was hiding in a house. 27 days later, in an operation conducted 

last Saturday, Deniz B., along with Yasemin B. and Mert B., who were 

also in the house, were taken into custody. 

The operation and the moment Deniz B. was apprehended in the attic 

were captured by a drone camera. It was learned that Deniz B. has a 

criminal record for 'threats' and 'insults', while Yasemin B. has a record 

for 'intentional injury', 'threats', and 'insults'.

After completing the procedures at the police station, Deniz B. was 

referred to the courthouse on charges of 'breach of trust' and 'theft from a 

workplace or institution'; Yasemin B. and Mert B. were referred on charges 

of 'harboring a criminal'. Deniz B. was arrested and sent to prison by the 

court, while Yasemin B. and Mert B. were released under judicial 

supervision.

"Spy & Release": Teacher Caught With Exam Cheating Devices at Izmir Rail Station

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(DHA News Agency website, 23 August 2026)

    Devices to make James Bond blush.

Three different cameras, sound devices and various technical equipment 

used for cheating on exams were seized from a bag found at Izmir 

Alsancak  Train Station. The teacher, Mehmet A. (41), who claimed to be 

the owner of the bag, was detained.

The incident occurred yesterday around 4:00 PM at Alsancak Train 

Station in Konak district. Following a report of a suspicious, unattended 

bag at the station, patrol teams from the District Police Department were 

dispatched to the address. 

While the teams were at the scene, a person contacted security personnel by 

phone, stating that the bag belonged to him and that he would come to 

collect it. The police then secured the bag. Shortly afterward, Mehmet A. 

arrived at the scene, stating that the bag belonged to him, and was stopped 

by the police. 

Mehmet A. and friend  at school. Spy moonlighting supplements

meager teacher salary.

A search of the bag revealed three cameras hidden inside buttons attached 

to three black emblems, a laptop, two smartphones, two internet distribution 

devices, wireless headphones, a USB hub, and numerous other technical 

equipment. Mehmet A., identified as a teacher employed by the Ministry 

of National Education (MEB), was taken into custody on charges of violating 

Law No. 6114 concerning the Student Selection and Placement Center 

(ÖSYM).

In his initial statement, Mehmet A. reportedly said that he used the seized 

equipment to obtain exam questions and give the answers to others.  (!)

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

"Snatch & Release": Pickpockets Plague Public Transport Targetting Tourists, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 22 August 2026)

                            "What's in YOUR wallet?"

Following a series of pickpocketing reports on public transportation 

vehicles in Istanbul's Fatih, Beyoğlu, Beşiktaş, Zeytinburnu, and 

Eyüpsultan districts, Istanbul Police Department's Public Security 

Branch teams launched an investigation and meticulously reviewed 

camera footage from the public transportation vehicles.

The investigation revealed that the suspects, particularly in tourist 

areas, boarded trams and buses in groups of three to five, targeting 

tourists. Using 'cornering' and 'shielding' techniques to approach their 

targets, the suspects were found to have committed 25 separate 

pickpocketing offenses on public transportation.

In ongoing investigations, it was determined that the suspects, who 

were found to be operating in an organized manner using the same 

method on public transportation vehicles in tourist districts, stole 

jewelry and money worth a total of 5 million Turkish Lira from victims 

in 25 separate crimes using a masking technique. Police teams, acting 

to apprehend the suspects who were pickpocketing on public transport

using this masking method, arrested 20 suspects in a simultaneous 

operation carried out yesterday morning. It was reported that the

 suspects' procedures at the police station are ongoing.

Suspects enjoying some quiet time together...

"Pray For Release": Drunk Driver Crashes Into Imam's Room at Bolu Mosque

türkçe

(Yeni Akit newspaper, 21 August 2026)

Coincidentally, the Imam was dining on "Imam Bayıldı"  

(a tasty dish that means "The Imam Fainted") at the moment 

of  the crash!

In Bolu, a car driven by a drunk driver first crashed into a parked car, 

then lost control, veered approximately 84 meters, and came to a stop 

after hitting the wall of the imam's room at a mosque (!). The driver, 

who was found to have a blood alcohol level of 1.00 promille and 

whose license had previously been revoked, was fined 250,000 TL 

(about $5,200), while the car owner who allowed the unlicensed 

driver to operate the vehicle was fined 40,000 TL (about $830) .

Faint and even crash-worthy.

The accident occurred on Yelki Street in the Sağlık neighborhood. 

According to reports, the car with license plate 14 ACC 234, driven 

by E.İ., collided with a parked car with license plate 14 ABG 141 

while traveling on Dağıstanlı Street.  Despite the collision, the car 

continued on its way and lost control when it reached the roundabout 

on Yelki Street.

The car continued for approximately 100 meters, crossing the 

intersection on Yelki Street and crashing into the wall of the imam's 

room (!) at the Cuma Pazarı Yanı Mosque in Sağlık Mahallesi.

Following a report of the accident, medical, police, and fire crews 

were dispatched to the scene.  The driver, E.İ., and a passenger, H.F., 

were injured and taken to the İzzet Baysal State Hospital Köroğlu 

Unit by medical teams.

"Design & Release": Turkish Architect's Barcelona Masterpiece Gets "Turkified" in Istanbul by AI

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(onedio.com website, 20 August 2026)

           Barcelona architectural elegance...

After studying at the Pratt Institute in New York, Alihan Dumankaya 

gained years of experience at the legendary architect Ricardo Bofill's 

studio (Taller de Arquitectura) in Barcelona, ​​and then founded his own 

studio, Estudio AD. In his designs, he combines local identity with 

universal aesthetic principles.

This project, which has garnered international acclaim and generated 

widespread interest in architectural circles, proves that it's possible to 

move beyond "lifeless concrete houses" in contemporary residential 

architecture and create warm, human-scale alternatives that respect 

the cultural fabric. The concept he designed for an apartment building 

in Barcelona went viral precisely because of these characteristics.

However (!) Turkish "architects" supplied an Istanbul rendering, 

thanks to AI:

Post

altan

@littleiv3

Translated from Turkish

If Alihan Bey had built the same building in Istanbul,

it would look like this.

"Drone & Release": Ukraine-Russia War Comes to a Trabzon Police Station

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(İhlas News Agency website, 19 August 2026)

                    Trabzon now the southern front?!

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) crashed and exploded near vehicles 

parked next to the Arsin District Police Department building (!) in 

Arsin district of Trabzon province. 

According to reports, the UAV crashed at approximately 7:30 PM in an 

area where vehicles belonging to the Arsin District Police Department 

were located. The explosion caused material damage to three vehicles. 

There were no casualties or injuries. Crime scene investigation and 

bomb disposal teams are continuing their investigations at the scene.

Trabzon Governor Şahin stated that : "Efforts are underway to 

determine the origin of the aircraft. Around 7 PM today, an object believed 

to be an aircraft fell from a height into the courtyard of our police station 

in Arsin district. Thankfully, there were no casualties. However, some 

vehicles in the parking lot sustained material damage. A thorough 

investigation has been launched, and our crime scene investigation 

teams are currently at the scene conducting an examination. I will 

provide you with information after the investigation into the origin of 

the aircraft is completed. My deepest sympathies."

"Bigger They Are & Release": Self-syled VIP Who Could "Buy Turkey", Nabbed on Drugs and Prostitution Charge, in Ankara

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Cumhuriyet Newspaper, 18 August 2026)

                     "Don't you know who I am??!!"

Abdulkadir Özcan, former Board Member of PETLAS (Petrol ve Lastik 

Sanayii/Oil and Tire Industries), who made headlines with this statement 

on a Turkish Airlines flight: "I'm a billionaire, I could buy Turkey.", has 

been detained in a drug and prostitution operation in Ankara. (!) It was 

reported that 175.45 grams of a substance believed to be narcotics were 

seized during a search of his home.

Özcan came to public attention in December 2024 with an incident on 

a Turkish Airlines flight from Dubai to Istanbul. Footage showing Özcan 

arguing with cabin crew and passengers over alcohol service in Business 

Class, and saying, "Do you know who I am? I'm a billionaire. I could buy 

Turkey," sparked outrage on social media.

Özcan was selling t-shirts on the plane, too...

"Resist & Release": He Locked Himself in House, Fired on Mediators, But Finally Surrendered After Four Days, in Çatalca

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Karar.com website, 17 August 2026)

                             Suspect Aktürk with hostage.

İrfan Aktürk, who allegedly locked himself in his house after arguing 

with his family in Çatalca, Istanbul, and fired at Gendarmerie teams 

that arrived at the scene, surrendered after approximately 4 days (!) of 

persuasion efforts.

On Thursday, August 13th, an argument broke out between İrfan Aktürk 

and his family in the Yalıköy neighborhood of Çatalca for reasons yet 

unknown. During the argument, his father became ill, prompting the 

call for medical assistance.

Following this, İrfan A. locked himself inside his house. Gendarmerie 

and medical teams were dispatched to the area. It is alleged that Aktürk

opened fire on the Gendarmerie officers upon their arrival.

Part of the furniture.

Following the incident, extensive security measures were taken in the 

area, and efforts were initiated to persuade the suspect to surrender. After 

approximately four days of work by Gendarmerie teams, Aktürk was 

convinced to surrender on Sunday morning, August 16th.

The suspect, who emerged from the house, was taken into custody by 

Gendarmerie teams in the garden. It has been learned that İrfan A.'s 

processing at the Gendarmerie station is ongoing.

"Resist but (No) Release". Crime Boss Tried Every Which Way, But His "Liberation" Efforts Fell Short, from Argentina to Turkey

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Nefes Newspaper, 16 August 2026)

        So glad to be home, he knelt to kiss the ground.

Serkan Kurtuluş (whose surname means "liberation" (!)), the leader of 

an organized crime syndicate who was wanted internationally on a red 

notice and apprehended in Argentina, has finally been brought to 

Istanbul following the completion of his extradition process.

Kurtuluş, who was wanted on a red notice for numerous crimes including 

"premeditated murder," "intentional homicide," "forming an organization 

to commit crimes," "threats," and "armed robbery" committed in Turkey, 

was apprehended in Argentina in 2020.

Following a process coordinated by the Interpol Europol Directorate, 

Kurtuluş was handed over to the Argentine authorities and brought to 

Türkiye on Turkish Airlines flight TK16, which departed from Buenos 

Aires, Argentina, and stopped in São Paulo, Brazil, accompanied by a 

Turkish team.

However (!), while the plane was parked at the São Paulo airport, Kurtuluş

shouted in Spanish that there was a bomb on the plane while it was waiting 

there. His efforts to have the plane evacuated were unsuccessful, and the 

extradition process continued with the necessary security measures in place.

In happier days...

The process began with the issuance of a red notice on October 31, 2017, 

as a result of the work carried out by the Interpol Europol Directorate. 

Following these efforts, information was obtained that Kurtuluş was 

apprehended in Argentina on June 11, 2020.

Kurtuluş, who sought asylum in Argentina to prevent his extradition to 

Türkiye, had his request rejected, but his extradition was delayed for a 

long time due to legal processes.

After the Argentine authorities approved Kurtuluş's extradition to Türkiye, 

following his hunger strike (!) while in prison, the Interpol Europol 

Directorate took action. International coordination was initiated to bring 

Kurtuluş to Türkiye.

Handed over to security personnel at Istanbul Airport by his accompanying 

team, Kurtuluş was taken to the Istanbul Airport Security Branch Directorate.