The Turkish police is making the best use of resources it has confiscated from crime organisations. According to the country's interior ministry, as many as 23 luxury cars seized by Istanbul police have been converted to traffic police vehicles to maintain the law and order situation.

The Turkish police is making the best use of resources it has confiscated from crime organisations. According to the country's interior ministry, as many as 23 luxury cars seized by Istanbul police have been converted to traffic police vehicles to maintain the law and order situation. The vehicles were given to Istanbul police in line with a court order. The vehicles converted for police use include a Bentley, a Porsche and a Volvo that have been painted white and blue with 'traffic police' written on them. It is estimated the new police cars have a market value of more than $5 million. Drug trafficker Hakan Ayik arrested According to the Daily Telegraph, the exotic cars seized belong to one of the world’s alleged biggest drug traffickers and ex-Sydney bikie Hakan Ayik who was arrested alongside his 36 other aides in Istanbul last month, “We will not forgive organised criminal organisations..we will dismantle organised criminal organisations of any size and bring them to justice,” said Ali Yerlikaya, Turkey’s interior minister on X (formerly known as Twitter) after the arrest. Watch | WION Dispatch: Deadly riot engulfs in Mexico's Sinaloa, son of drug lord 'El Chapo' arrested × Yerlikaya added that Mick Hawki was the former alleged leader of the Comanchero bikie crime organisation, linked to Ayik, but was killed in 2018. The Comanchero Motorcycle Club is an outlaw motorcycle gang based in Australia and southeast Asia. “The criminal organisation continued its activities under the management of Mark Douglas Buddle. The so-called leader of the organisation...was captured in 2022 and handed over to Australian authorities.” Notably, Ayik had been running his drug criminal enterprise in Turkey after fleeing Australia in 2010 before the New South Wales (NSW) police could arrest him for his alleged involvement in a massive heroin shipment uncovered at Port Botany. Also read | Mexico’s dreaded Sinaloa cartel ‘puts up’ banners announcing to stop sale of fentanyl Ayik's fortune is estimated to be worth around $1 billion. He had been running his business rather openly with reports claiming that he was paying over $1 million a month as protection money to corrupt government and military officials. Ayik's criminal credentials could be established from the fact that in 2021, he was among 17 people across the globe to be charged in an FBI indictment in the US for violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (Rico) Act. (With inputs from agencies)

Turkey: Luxury cars seized from criminal gangs turned into traffic police vehicles

Turkish police deployed in central Istanbul on Sunday to enforce a ban on the city&#39;s annual gay and transgender pride march, blocking off a main street and dispersing groups of demonstrators who gathered nearby.

Police with riot shields and helmets sealed off entrances to Istiklal Street, where organisers had planned to hold the march before authorities announced the ban on Saturday, citing security concerns after threats from an ultra-nationalist group.

Small groups of people gathered in sidestreets waving rainbow flags, symbols of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender pride. Police fired rubber bullets to disperse one group, witnesses said, and detained several people.

Footage posted on the internet also appeared to show them firing tear gas at one location.

Istanbul&#39;s pride march attracted tens of thousands of people in the past, making it one of the biggest in the Muslim world. But in 2015 it was broken up by police and it was banned last year and again this year after threats from the ultra-nationalist Alperen Hearths group.

The Istanbul governor&#39;s office said it decided to prevent the demonstration out of concern for the security of marchers, tourists and residents.

&quot;The true reason for the reactions towards a march that took place in peace for 12 years is hate,&quot; organisers said.

&quot;Our security cannot be provided by imprisoning us behind walls, asking us to hide,&quot; they added. &quot;Our security will be provided by recognising us in the constitution, by securing justice, by equality and freedom.&quot;

Istanbul has traditionally been seen as a relative safe haven by members of the gay community from elsewhere in the Middle East, including refugees from Syria and Iraq.

But although homosexuality is not a crime in Turkey, unlike many other Muslim countries, homophobia remains widespread. Critics say President Tayyip Erdogan and his Islamist-rooted AK Party have shown little interest in expanding rights for minorities, gays and women, and are intolerant of dissent.

Police fired rubber bullets to disperse people taking part in Istanbul's annual gay and transgender pride march

Turkish police deployed in central Istanbul on Sunday to enforce a ban on the city's annual gay and transgender pride march, blocking off a main street and dispersing groups of demonstrators who gathered nearby. Police with riot shields and helmets sealed off entrances to Istiklal Street, where organisers had planned to hold the march before authorities announced the ban on Saturday, citing security concerns after threats from an ultra-nationalist group. Small groups of people gathered in sidestreets waving rainbow flags, symbols of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender pride. Police fired rubber bullets to disperse one group, witnesses said, and detained several people. Footage posted on the internet also appeared to show them firing tear gas at one location. Istanbul's pride march attracted tens of thousands of people in the past, making it one of the biggest in the Muslim world. But in 2015 it was broken up by police and it was banned last year and again this year after threats from the ultra-nationalist Alperen Hearths group. The Istanbul governor's office said it decided to prevent the demonstration out of concern for the security of marchers, tourists and residents. "The true reason for the reactions towards a march that took place in peace for 12 years is hate," organisers said. "Our security cannot be provided by imprisoning us behind walls, asking us to hide," they added. "Our security will be provided by recognising us in the constitution, by securing justice, by equality and freedom." Istanbul has traditionally been seen as a relative safe haven by members of the gay community from elsewhere in the Middle East, including refugees from Syria and Iraq. But although homosexuality is not a crime in Turkey, unlike many other Muslim countries, homophobia remains widespread. Critics say President Tayyip Erdogan and his Islamist-rooted AK Party have shown little interest in expanding rights for minorities, gays and women, and are intolerant of dissent.

Police enforce ban on gay, transgender pride march in Istanbul

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Turkey: Luxury cars seized from criminal gangs turned into traffic police vehicles

Police enforce ban on gay, transgender pride march in Istanbul