World Bulletin/News Desk

At least 15 Turkish police officials were taken into custody on Monday as part of an investigation into alleged illegal wiretapping

The detentions took place across eight south-central provinces of Turkey, according to security sources.

According to Gaziantep Police Department's Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Unit, the arrests came after a Gaziantep prosecutor issued arrest warrants for the 15 officers.

Apart from wiretapping, the police officers have been accused of forging official documents and violating the privacy of individuals.

The arrests follow a December 2013 probe that led to the arrest of several high-profile figures, including the sons of three former government ministers and leading business figures.

All those detained in the December operation were later released pending trial.

The Turkish government has blamed wiretapping on a movement led by U.S.-based preacher Fethullah Gulen. It also accused the network of attempting to infiltrate the Turkish state.

The Gulen movement denies the charges.

The government has denounced the December probe as a "dirty plot," which it said was constructed by a "parallel state."

The parallel state, according to the government, refers to an alleged group of Turkish bureaucrats and senior officials embedded in the country's institutions, including the judiciary and the police who are working to undermine the sitting Turkish government.