Mossad financial network manager arrested in Turkiye
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On Tuesday, authorities announced that Liridon Rexhepi, identified as the manager of Mossad's financial network in Turkiye, was arrested by Istanbul police.
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Liridon Rexhepi, a Kosovan national and manager of Mossad's financial network in Turkiye (Social Media/X)
Turkish security sources reported on Tuesday that Liridon Rexhepi, a Kosovan national and manager of Mossad's financial network in Turkiye, was arrested by Istanbul police.
Rexhepi was allegedly transferring funds to Mossad agents who used drones to film targets, conducted psychological operations against Palestinian politicians, and gathered intelligence on Syria.
The Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) identified Liridon Rexhepi after detecting irregularities in his financial accounts, which revealed numerous deposits to Mossad operatives in Turkiye via Western Union. He was placed under MIT surveillance upon his entry into Turkiye on August 25, 2024, and was detained in Istanbul on August 30 in a joint operation with Istanbul police.
He was formally arrested on Tuesday.
Sources indicated that Rexhepi confessed during interrogation to conducting the money transfers.
MIT operations have revealed that Mossad’s field agents in Turkiye conduct their money transactions through Eastern European countries, particularly Kosovo. The funds, transferred from Kosovo, are then sent to sources in Syria and paid with cryptocurrency. Rexhepi is the first high-profile Mossad operative arrested in Turkiye this year, as the country has intensified its efforts against suspected Mossad members.
Since January, Turkish authorities have detained, arrested, or charged dozens of individuals suspected of having ties to "Israel’s" Mossad, most of whom are Turkish nationals. This includes seven suspects detained in January, six charged in March, and two arrested in April.
Ankara is concerned that Mossad may be recruiting operatives on Turkish soil to target foreign nationals, with media reports indicating that some Hamas members are in Turkiye. It is worth noting that the country maintains its relationship with Hamas and does not classify the group as a terrorist organization, in contrast to the stance of European countries and the United States.
