Turkey Detains Two Suspects in Istanbul on Charges of Espionage for Israeli Mossad
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Turkish news sources confirmed the arrest of two men in Istanbul on allegations of collaboration with the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad. This significant security operation was conducted through the coordinated efforts of the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The detained suspects have been identified as Mehmet Budak Derya and Veysel Kerimoğlu. Security reports indicate that these individuals had been supplying crucial intelligence data to the Israeli intelligence service over several years.
Mehmet Budak Derya, a mining engineer, expanded his commercial activities after establishing a company in 2005, focusing on marble extraction. This business expansion reportedly attracted the attention of Israeli intelligence services.
Derya first established contact with Mossad through an intermediary operating under the alias ‘Ali Ahmed Yassin,’ who managed a front company. This connection was reportedly strengthened during a meeting in a European country in 2012, leading to subsequent encounters.
In 2013, Derya traveled abroad under the guise of business, meeting with Mossad operatives. During these meetings, he was allegedly tasked with recruiting Kerimoğlu, a Turkish citizen of Palestinian origin, to assist in transferring intelligence to the Israeli regime.
Kerimoğlu’s compensation was reportedly managed directly by Israeli intelligence elements. Derya utilized his extensive business contacts in the Middle East and connections with dissident Palestinians to gather commercial and social intelligence.
Reports further suggest that Derya attempted to secure permits to enter Gaza, leveraging these cover stories, with the goal of capturing images of sensitive warehouses to pass on to Mossad.
In 2016, Kerimoğlu proposed a venture involving the trade of drone components; Mossad confirmed this proposal, and initial equipment was supplied by Israel. One stated objective for the sale of these drones was linked to the assassination of Mohamed Zouari in Tunisia that same year.
Throughout his alleged activities, Derya reportedly employed encrypted systems for secure communications and was subjected to lie detector tests in both 2016 and 2024.
Derya’s final known plan involved establishing a shell company designed to infiltrate the international supply chain and manage the export of goods benefiting Mossad. The two men were apprehended in Istanbul during an operation codenamed ‘Monitum Activity’ just prior to the execution of this final scheme.
