Istanbul police have uncovered a massive cache of illegal weapon components hidden within an abandoned underground water tank in the Pendik district. During the targeted operation, law enforcement officials seized 3,092 parts intended for the manufacture of unlicensed firearms and detained four suspects believed to be involved in the illicit production network.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, citing TRT Haber, the raid was executed by the Organized Crime Department of the Istanbul City Police as part of a wider crackdown on arms smuggling. Officers utilized drone surveillance to monitor the area, observing suspicious individuals entering and exiting a concealed subterranean space. A subsequent search of the location revealed bags containing 3,092 weapon components, including 1,869 pistol slides and various accessories used in the assembly of handguns.
Turkish authorities have characterized this seizure as the largest single haul of illegal firearm production materials ever recorded in the country. This operation highlights the ongoing efforts by security forces to dismantle underground manufacturing hubs that supply organized crime syndicates. Investigations are currently continuing at the Istanbul City Police Department to determine the full scale of the operation and identify any further collaborators involved in the illegal arms trade.
