Two organized crime suspects who had been wanted in Turkey for years appeared before a judge in Ankara on Monday after being extradited from Armenia under Interpol warrants, as part of an international crackdown on organized crime and mafia-linked terrorism.
Authorities link Ercan Yılmaz to a criminal organization led by Barış Boyun, a notorious figure apprehended in Italy in 2024 for illegal possession of firearms. Boyun’s gang is allegedly involved in drug trafficking, murder, and illegal immigration. Turkey has also sought Boyun’s extradition on terrorism charges, but Italy has refused, citing concerns about potential harm due to his Kurdish ethnicity and ties to pro-Kurdish political parties.
The Turkish Interior Ministry issued 43 warrants against Yılmaz, along with an Interpol warrant. He has been wanted for the past 15 years.
The second suspect, İbrahim Kaymak, is the subject of 11 warrants issued over the past six years.
In a statement, the Turkish Ministry of Internal Affairs expressed gratitude to the Armenian government for its cooperation in capturing and extraditing the two fugitives, marking significant progress in the fight against international organized crime.
