TURKISTAN TIMES – Istanbul, May 20: Turkey's National Intelligence Organization (MİT) has exposed a high-tech espionage network linked to China operating within Turkish territory. The network was found to be illegally collecting personal and communication information, primarily targeting Uyghurs living in Turkey and Turkish state officials. Seven suspects were arrested during the operation and subsequently remanded in custody by court order.
According to widespread reports from various news sources in Turkey, the Turkish Republic's National Intelligence Organization uncovered this espionage activity through long-term surveillance of the seven suspects, believed to have come from China. The network was found to be active in five major cities: Istanbul, Izmir, Manisa, Balikesir, and Bursa. They used special devices called «fake base stations» to collect location data, phone call logs, and mobile messages of targeted individuals, sending this information directly to an intelligence center in China.
According to information from CNN TÜRK, the «fake base station» technology exploited the principle of mobile phones connecting to the nearest or strongest transmitting base station signal. When the spies brought the device within a 50-meter radius of a person whose information they sought to obtain, the phone would automatically be forced to connect to this «fake base station». As a result, all information would fall under the control of the spies. This technique is very similar to methods typically used by state law enforcement agencies under a court order, indicating the high capability of this espionage network.
Investigations also revealed details regarding how these devices were brought into Turkey. As it was not easy to transport these high-tech devices through customs as a whole unit, the spies broke them into pieces and brought them into Turkish territory using separate couriers as a method to evade inspection. They then assembled and put them into operation in Turkey.
In the operation conducted by the Turkish National Intelligence Organization in cooperation with the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and the Istanbul Police Department, the seven suspects were caught red-handed at the scene while committing the crime. Although some of the arrested individuals initially claimed not to know each other, subsequent investigations proved they were a closely linked network. It was also reported that one of the suspects used the excuse that they were there to film a commercial at the location where they were caught.
Investigation results confirmed that all seized technical devices were manufactured and programmed in China. It was also determined that the suspects were engaged in illegal listening and espionage activities. These 7 suspects were arrested and remanded in custody by court order.
This operation once again demonstrates that China's intelligence activities in Turkey, particularly targeting the Uyghur diaspora, are ongoing and are employing high-tech means.
