By Halil Demir
ISTANBUL (AA) - Over 200 people were arrested early Tuesday on suspicion of financial crimes, including financing terrorism, according to Istanbul prosecutors.
In an Istanbul-based operation, police in 40 provinces across Turkey arrested 216 out of 417 people sought by warrant.
They face possible charges of attempting to establish a criminal organization, money laundering, and financing terrorism.
Since Jan. 1, 2017, the suspects allegedly sent nearly 2.5 billion Turkish liras (nearly $420 million) to over 28,000 bank accounts abroad from various bank branches and ATMs.
Most of the transfers’ recipients were identified as Iranian nationals living in the U.S.