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For the first time in Türkiye Turkey's National Intelligence Organization arrested seven Chinese nationals for espionage activities
For the first time in Turkey
Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) arrested seven Chinese nationals for espionage activities
Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) carried out a serious operation in Istanbul, arresting seven Chinese nationals for espionage activities by setting up fake base stations.
According to CNN Turk, the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) carried out a large-scale operation in Istanbul last week, arresting seven Chinese nationals accused of crimes including setting up fake base stations, stealing personal data from mobile phones, and sending them to China.
The investigation revealed that the Chinese nationals entered Turkey in 2025, concealing their true identities. They received orders from a specific individual and operated as a group, engaging in espionage and car rental fraud in Istanbul, Izmir, Bursa, and Yalova. This time, they were arrested while committing the crime in their car.
The report stated that the fake mobile base stations used by the Chinese broadcast high-frequency signals and overpowered the signals of existing base stations in the area, sending their signals to nearby people and causing subscribers to connect to their network. Through this, the spies could obtain mobile phone IMEI numbers, IP addresses, call logs, SMS messages, and credit card information.
The equipment for the fake base stations they created was imported from China, and the collected data and subscriber information were sent to a server in China. Their technical equipment was provided by a Chinese owner of an electronics company in Istanbul, who was also detained. At the same time, extensive investigations were launched into how the equipment was brought into Turkey, including customs and border entry records.
After successive reports on the matter were published by influential Turkish media outlets, a public outcry erupted. In particular, the fact that this type of private espionage activity had first appeared in Turkey, that the spies were foreigners, and that the digital data was being sent to China aroused particular interest.