World Bulletin / News Desk

Twenty-six active-duty military officers were detained following police raids across 15 provinces on Saturday as part of a widening probe against a military espionage gang.

The military officers were detained after an İzmir court on Saturday issued capture warrants for 30 people as part of an operation conducted by the İzmir Police Department's Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Unit against the military espionage gang.

Simultaneous operations were launched in 15 provinces, with police officers detaining 26 suspects following searches of military facilities and the suspects' homes. The 26 suspects were taken to İzmir Central Command, from where they were to be referred to court. Police are still working to capture another four suspects.

The 30 suspects are reportedly accused of involvement in a military espionage gang. The first wave of arrests of members of the gang began in May, when 20 people were arrested. Those arrested stand accused of prostitution, human smuggling, blackmail, illegally obtaining military information, and establishing and running a criminal organization. According to earlier news reports, the gang is headed by a 25-year-old woman who is studying at Pamukkale University in Denizli.

The gang is accused of hiring foreign women as prostitutes for military officers from whom they obtain military information and then sell that information to third parties. The gang is based in İzmir and reportedly has branches in a number of provinces, including İstanbul, Ankara, Bursa, Antalya, Muğla, Manisa, Zonguldak and Ordu.

The investigation against the espionage gang started around a year-and-a-half ago.