In an operation targeting individuals producing explicit content for the OnlyFans platform, which is restricted in Turkey, 16 suspects were detained, and assets worth 300 million lira belonging to 2 companies, 10 real estate properties, and 14 vehicles were seized. Images related to the operation have also emerged, showing teams going to addresses to detain the individuals in question.
In Istanbul, an operation was carried out against those who shared obscene content by accessing the blocked OnlyFans platform through IP address changes from different countries.
During the operation, 16 suspects were detained, and assets worth 300 million lira belonging to 2 companies, 10 properties, and 14 vehicles were seized. It was learned that the suspects Merve Taşkın, Gizem Bağdaçiçek, Burçin Erol, and Serpil Cansız were abroad.
On the other hand, images related to the operation were also released. In the footage, police teams were seen going to the addresses of those who shot the obscene images and detaining them one by one.
The Cyber Crime Department of the Istanbul Police, in coordination with the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, initiated a study under the crimes of ‘Money Laundering’ and ‘Obscenity’. Investigations revealed that access to the OnlyFans platform, which was blocked by a court decision on June 7, 2023, was achieved by changing the IP address.
In the studies, it was determined that the suspects directed their followers to special content for a fee by making posts on their public social media accounts, and encouraged access to the platform with visuals and videos to increase interaction. It was also learned that access to the content was encouraged not only through the platform but also via instant messaging applications.
In a statement made by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding the operation, the following expressions were included: “It has been determined that obscene images and videos are shared for a fee on the platform called OnlyFans, which is completely sexual content and banned in our country, and on other social media platforms where encouraging posts are made towards this platform. In the coordinated studies conducted by our Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office; it has been established that the platform, where completely paid sexual content is shared, was blocked by a court decision on June 7, 2023, by the Istanbul 1st Criminal Court of Peace due to containing content that is not suitable for public morality and the Turkish family structure. It has been determined that access was made through VPN due to the ban of this platform in our country, and individuals made sexual content posts on their publicly accessible social media pages to encourage access to the platform.
It has been determined that they made posts indicating that they provided access to special content for a certain fee by reaching more shares with the shared image and video content, and that they could access these either through OnlyFans or through private channels like Telegram. It has been established that the posts made by the suspects on publicly accessible platforms contained obscene content, and that they invested the income obtained from these posts in movable/immovable assets, bitcoin, gold, or by opening time deposit accounts through banks.
Due to strong evidence that the suspects evaluated the criminal income obtained from the crime of obscenity through investment vehicles and laundered the income obtained from the crime, it has been determined that the total value of the movable and immovable assets belonging to the suspects and the identified 2 companies, 10 properties, and 14 vehicles is approximately 257,234,570.00 TL, the market value of the companies is approximately 500,000.00 TL, and the total value of the companies’ market capital and movable and immovable assets is estimated to be 300,000,000.00 TL.
On February 13, 2026, a simultaneous operation was carried out against a total of 25 individuals and 2 companies in 8 different provinces and districts, including Istanbul, Adana, Ankara, Antalya, Edremit, Kocaeli Gölcük, and Samsun, along with the suspects, and their assets were seized. The investigation continues to be conducted in a multi-faceted and meticulous manner. Respectfully announced to the public.”
