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Transcript/ScriptTURKEY ORGANIZED CRIME
HEADLINE: Turkey Cracks Down on Organized Crime to Clean Up Image
TEASER: Istanbul police use seized expensive sports cars in bid to stop drug lords, escape international scrutiny over money laundering, and attract foreign investment
PUBLISHED AT: 03/20/2024 at 1:30PM
BYLINE: Dorian Jones
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Istanbul
VIDEOGRAPHER: Agency, Courtesy, Berke Bas-DO NOT PUBLISH NAME
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA ORIGINAL, Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Turkey
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO _x_
TRT: 2:30
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TVR
UPDATE: DO NOT USE BERKE BAS NAME FOR SECURITY REASONS.))
((INTRO)) [[Istanbul police are now using some of the world's most expensive sports cars as part of Turkey’s new bid to crack down on organized crime. Ankara hopes to escape international scrutiny over money laundering as it works to attract foreign investors. Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul.]]
((NARRATOR))
Istanbul traffic police now boast some of the world's supercars.
(Mandatory cg. Turkish Interior Ministry))
The cars are being seized in a nationwide crackdown on organized crime groups involved in narcotics smuggling and international money laundering.
Analysts say Turkey's unique geography has made it an ideal center for international crime.
[[RADIO VERSION: Murat Aslan is with the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research, an Ankara think tank.]]
((Murat Aslan, Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research - male in English))
((Via ZOOM))
“Turkey is in between the continents. So, once you want to transfer a commodity which is illegal, it may be drugs or etc., it doesn't matter. You must have a step here in Turkey. And in this sense, most criminal gangs in Europe or the United States or South America, well, they have a linkage to the ones here in Turkey.”
((Mandatory cg. Turkish Interior Ministry))
((NARRATOR))
Many of those arrested are international crime figures wanted by Interpol, coming from Europe, Asia, and the United States. Analysts say Turkey's lax financial controls have also made it attractive to organized crime.
[[RADIO VERSION: Atilla Yesilada is a Turkey analyst for GlobalSource Partners.]]
((Atilla Yesilada, GlobalSource Partners - MALE IN ENGLISH))
((via ZOOM))
“Come, bring cash, bring diamonds, we don't really care. Just check it at the border or deposit into a bank. And we'll never ask questions. This ‘never ask questions’ part, is of course, completely in violation of the spirit of the global anti-money laundering legislation.”
((Mandatory cg. Turkish Interior Ministry))
((NARRATOR))
The international anti-money laundering organization the Financial Action Task Force, or FATF, put Turkey on its gray list of countries failing to combat global money laundering.
((Mandatory cg. Turkish Interior Ministry))
Turkey's crackdown on organized crime, along with the tightening of its financial controls, are part of efforts to remove itself from the list of offenders and reduce its damaging economic impact.
[[RADIO VERSION: Atilla Yesilada for GlobalSource Partners.]]
((Atilla Yesilada, GlobalSource Partners - MALE IN ENGLISH))
((via ZOOM))
“Commercial banks and global funds are reluctant to do business with a country that’s still on the gray list because, you know, too much sanctions.”
((end courtesy)) //
“If we remain on the FATF gray list again, from the top of my head, say 20% of the institutions which would otherwise be interested in investing in Turkey probably won't be able to do so because of compliance fears.”
((NARRATOR))
The Turkish government sees increasing international investment as key to solving Turkey's economic woes. This means the crackdown on organized crime is likely to continue, and Istanbul police may keep getting more of these fancy cars.
((Dorian Jones, VOA News, Istanbul))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Subtitles / Dubbing AvailableNo
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateMarch 20, 2024 14:39 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
