Eleven members of an Iranian organized crime network and a Georgian national were granted Turkish citizenship while running illegal operations in Turkey, according to an indictment filed against the gang, the Birgün daily reported.
At the center of the controversy is Sa’dollah Amirshaghaghi, aka Saeed Amiri, whose detention, along with several other gang members, was announced by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya in March 2024.
Amirshaghaghi, who adopted the name “Can Diego” after naturalization and registered as an İstanbul resident, is accused of running illegal betting sites, laundering money and leading an organized crime syndicate.
Prosecutors drafted an indictment of him and his network last month, charging 24 people with organized crime, illegal gambling and money laundering.
Turkish citizenship for gang members
A major revelation in the indictment is that all Iranian members of the illegal gambling syndicate, along with a Georgian national, had acquired Turkish citizenship. However, the document does not explain how or why they were granted citizenship, raising concerns about possible irregularities in the naturalization process.
According to Birgün, Amirshaghaghi moved to Turkey in 2017 and quickly established himself as a businessman, gaining prominence in various sectors. He presented himself as a dentist, dance instructor and pilot while owning a dental hospital and launching multiple businesses.
Expanding his influence in İstanbul, he opened a dance school and a modeling agency in Beyoğlu. His involvement in the fashion and entertainment industries grew when he became the main sponsor of the Best Model of Turkey competition in 2020 and supported the farewell fashion show of prominent Turkish designer Yıldırım Mayruk. He also served as a jury member for the modeling competition.
Other members of his gang reportedly adopted surnames such as “Koç” and “Zorlu,” which are associated with some of Turkey’s wealthiest families, possibly to avoid suspicion.
Illegal gambling and money laundering operations
The report claims that Amirshaghaghi operated multiple illegal online gambling platforms from Turkey, targeting users in Iran. He allegedly laundered the proceeds in Turkey before transferring them abroad. Additionally, he is accused of cultivating ties with political and bureaucratic figures and using his modeling agency as a front for prostitution rings and blackmail schemes.
Betting is forbidden in Iran as it violates Islamic Sharia law. However, many Iranians argue that the network of betting sites is launched or at least supported by the Iranian government as these sites can freely use Iranian bank payment gateways for their transactions.
Iranian authorities had long sought action against Amirshaghaghi’s network. In November 2020 the Iranian government sent Turkey a detailed intelligence report outlining his organization’s structure, listing illegal gambling sites he managed and naming key associates. Some of these people were put on INTERPOL’s Red Notice list at Iran’s request.
Following this, Turkish authorities launched an investigation into Amirshaghaghi for “establishing and running an illegal gambling and criminal organization.” However, after three years with little progress, the case was dismissed in March 2023 due to “lack of sufficient evidence.”
Pressure from Iran led to reopening of the case
The case resurfaced when the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi visited Turkey in January 2024 and reportedly raised the issue directly with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, prompting Turkish authorities to reopen the investigation.
On March 5, 2024, Amirshaghaghi was detained at a hotel in İzmir while allegedly preparing to flee the country. The following day, Turkish authorities issued arrest warrants for 24 suspects linked to his operations, under which 15 people were detained.
However, the indictment does not explain why Turkish authorities allowed the network to operate despite having evidence since 2020 or why the case was initially dismissed in 2023.
The case has once again reignited discussions about Turkey’s policies on granting citizenship to foreign nationals involved in criminal activities and the effectiveness of its financial crime investigations.
Opposition politicians accuse the ruling Justice and Development (AKP) government of making Turkey a safe haven for international criminals by granting them citizenship through investment.
Since current Interior Minister Yelikaya assumed office in 2023, his ministry has launched numerous operations targeting international crime syndicates, some of whose members reportedly acquired Turkish citizenship under the program.
The government, however, has consistently defended its policies, asserting that security checks have been tightened and that every applicant is subject to rigorous scrutiny by Turkey’s intelligence agencies.
In 2018 Turkey lowered the investment criteria for foreigners to become Turkish citizens in a bid to boost investment in the economy. The regulations stipulated that foreigners can become citizens if they own property worth $250,000 for three years, down from a previous value of $1 million. The minimum investment necessary to obtain Turkish citizenship was increased to $400,000 in 2022 and $600,000 in 2024.