Wanted for drug-related crimes, convicted before to 24 years, Çetinkaya was caught in İstanbul

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Sought with red notice for drug-related crimes, and convicted before to 24 years of imprisonment, Urfi Çetinkaya was caught and taken into custody with five other people at an address in Sarıyer, İstanbul. 

The Directorate General of Security in Ankara announced that the Presidency for Drug-Related Crimes, and the İstanbul Directorate of Security Drug-Related Crimes Unit and Intelligence Unit organized the operation. 

Criminal record at Interpol

Çetinkaya was sought for crimes of "importing, producing and trading narcotics and stimulants without a license" in connection with the capture of 577 kilograms of acetic anhydride, 159 kilograms of morphine, 617 kilograms of heroin base in İstanbul in 2003, and 159 kilograms of heroin in Rize and 103 kilograms of heroin in Artvin in 2013. 

Çetinkaya who has two criminal records at Interpol is also convicted to 24 years of imprisonment in Turkey with definitive judgments at the courts. 

Urfi Çetinkaya's past 

Urfi Çetinkaya was again "sought" after the military coup of September 12, 1980. He was charged with smuggling and arms smuggling after the coup. 

 The police shot him on May 18, 1988. He is a wheelchair-bound ever since. 

He was caught in a farmhouse in 1989 with three kilograms of morphine and arrested. He was released 6 months later. 

He was taken into custody in 1991, in Spain this time, because of possessing 46 kilograms of heroin. He was released after his statement was taken. 

He was caught and arrested in operation called Matador in 2000. He was released in 2003. He was arrested again in a drug operation named Last Tango. He was released from prison in 2012 due to health problems. 

Spain connection

Urfi Çetinkaya was accused of managing a 2 billion dollar heroin trade in the Iberian Peninsula. 

In 2000 the State Security Court (DGM) requested the evidence for the crimes from Spain and after examination of this evidence issued an arrest warrant for Çetinkaya. 

Çetinkaya also stood trial in absentia in Spain.

In January 2022, the national police organization of Spain announced that the "Pablo Escobar" of the country was caught and the organization was busted. The announcement was stating that the person caught was linked to Çetinkaya and that they had met in İstanbul in July and September 2022. 

Zindashti connection

It was also asserted that Naji Sharifi Zindashti, the Iranian drugs smuggler, worked with Çetinkaya in drug trade. 

Çetinkaya's name was mentioned, together with the names of many other criminal organizations, in the killing of Zindashti's daughter.

Naji Sharifi Zindashti was arrested in Turkey in April 2018. When he was released on October 11, 2018, the indictment against him had not yet been completed. Although the prosecutor's office objected to his release, the drug baron could not be found.

Burhan Kuzu, a late prominent figure of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) who served as an MP between 2002 and 2018, was accused of pressuring the judge to release Zindashti.

He initially rejected the claims but had to admit that he called the judge after his photos with Zindashti emerged. Kuzu died of Covid-19 on November 20, 2020. (AS/PE)