10 officers detained in Syria-bound intelligence trucks investigation

At least 10 active officers have been detained in the operation, accused of illegal wiretapping, espionage, violation of privacy, recording of personal data, forgery of official documents, and forming a terror organization.

Last month, the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of Peace had arrested 17 active soldiers as a part of the same investigation. An arrest warrant was also issued for four prosecutors and a former commander on May 6.

A crisis erupted in 2014 after MİT trucks bound for Syria were stopped and searched by the authorities on Jan. 1, 2014 in the southern province of Hatay. Another group of trucks was searched by the gendarmerie in the southern province of Adana on Jan. 19.

In the subsequent investigation into the searches, top security personnel have been detained and accused of attempting to overthrow the government. 

The government had slammed the prosecutors and soldiers involved in the operations, arguing that both the truck and its personnel were protected by the MİT’s legal immunity.