Fugitive Fatih Özer, founder of Thodex wanted with a red notice, was caught in Albania

In the statement made by Ministry of Interior, it was stated that Albanian Interior Minister Bledar Çuçi informed Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu in the morning that Thodex founder, fugitive Özer, who was wanted with a red notice, was caught in Vlora in Albania and his identity was confirmed by biometric results.

In the statement, “The procedures for the extradition of Faruk Fatih Özer to Turkey have been started by the Interpol Department of the General Directorate of Security.” information shared.

The Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an ex officio investigation on April 22, 2021, upon a report that users could not access their accounts on the crypto money exchange Thodex and that the owner of the company fled abroad.

In this context, it was determined that the suspect Faruk Fatih Özer, the owner of the company, went abroad on April 20, 2021.

Detention warrants were issued for many suspects, including Özer, for whom arrest warrants were issued for his arrest.

A red notice was issued on April 23, 2021 by Interpol about Özer.

Statement from the Albanian police

In a written statement made by the Albanian police, it was reported that the operations regarding the arrest of the internationally wanted persons continue.

In the statement, it was noted that Özer, the founder of the internationally wanted crypto money exchange Thodex, for “establishing a criminal organization” and “fraud” was arrested in Himara city.

In the statement, it was stated that the operation, code-named “Brain”, carried out for the arrest of Özer, for whom there are national and international arrest warrants, ended:

“During the operation, the much-wanted citizen B.Ş., 36, a resident of Tirana, and EH, a 37-year-old resident of Durrān, were also detained to determine their relations with the person for whom an international search warrant was issued. Laptop computers, mobile phones, bank cards, etc. were seized as evidence. Documents related to the procedure have been forwarded to the Prosecutor’s Office at the Elbasan Judicial District Court for the continuation of the proceedings.