Turkish family largest mafia organization in Antwerp
Born in Beytüşşebap, a Turkish district in Şırnak province. That is the case with several suspects of the Mafia clan Y. against whom the public prosecutor has concluded a three-year long drug and financial investigation.
The prosecutor will summon at least 100 suspects to court. Without a doubt, the Y. family is the largest mafia clan in Antwerp.
Name a crime and they have committed, according to the prosecutor: drug trafficking, money laundering, social fraud, false passports, extortion, kidnapping and corruption.
The roots of the Assyrian Christian family Y. lie in the Beytussebap region, in Turkey. The Y. families emigrated en masse in 1991, were granted political asylum in Belgium and settled around the Saint Eligius Church in Antwerp.
In 2019, fifteen members of the Y. family were defeated during house searches there. The investigation into the visa fraud against ex-politician Melikan Kucam (N-VA) also resulted from this.
The judicial investigation against the Y. clan initially started around the import of cocaine. Yuhanis Y., nicknamed Bayram, was in charge. After his return to his country of origin, the leadership role was formed by Mecit Y.
Lots of 1.3 tons, 350 kg and 236 kg will have been smuggled in with the help of the family.
The cocaine was removed from the containers by the “soldiers”, like the Y. family’s accomplices once in wiretaps.
For other purposes, the Y. family does not belong to Flemish drug gangs. In case of conflict, the Y. family reacts with violence.
A family member who works at a port company is twice killed for allegedly committing double play.
Another family member in the country of origin has been taken hostage and beaten down on a financial basis.
What sets the clan apart from other drug gangs is their laundry list of related crimes. Corruption is one of their brands.
Two compositions, a city official, two bank clerks, a priest, … all have been bribed by the mafia organization.
The official, himself of Turkish origin, is obliged to deliver false passports in the name of the clan.
The two police officers are being prosecuted for unlawful database searches. One of them checked from clan leader Bayram Y. International signal was given.
In exchange, the policeman was allowed to drive around for almost two years in an Audi Q7, one of the thoroughbreds from Bayram Y’s car stable.
“I’ve been rude. I never used Bayram to deal with him,” the police officer admits.
Another policeman receives a loan of 5,000 euros from Bayram. He got that money, without putting anything on paper.
“Bayram really couldn’t come back. “I have more money than you think,” he said. I paid him back anyway,” said the policeman.
Because of those open contacts, the Y. family seems untouchable in Antwerp-North. Their close relationship with the church community in Antwerp reinforced this impression.
The Priest of the Chaldean Church in Antwerp himself receives 130,000 euros as a gift from the clan. The investigating judge gives the priest an international signal.
The man who now works in Egypt reports through his lawyer that the 130,000 euros has not been used in his own pocket. He has renovated the Saint Eligius Church with it.
The clan’s tentacles reach into the banking world. The suspect list includes two bank employees who have violated their professional secrecy and are informing the mafia organization about a financial investigation.
Many products have no official income. With false payslips, false driver’s licenses and false diplomas passengers a sleeve.
Three suspects who ran a garage present a diploma in Automotive Engineering from a Rotterdam university of applied sciences. According to the permissions, they have never been there.
Another family member forges pay slips to get a loan for his house. Yet another family member does the same to be able to buy an expensive car.
One family member receives a loan of 223,000 euros from the Flemish Housing Fund on the basis of false documents.
And then there is the social fraud. At least eight couples from family Y. do not ‘officially’ live together, including the clan leaders Bayram and Mecit Y.
For example, wives receive a higher child benefit and unemployment benefit. The men pay alimony on paper, which yields an extra profit.
During the searches in 2019, several couples are caught off guard. The detectives ring the doorbell of a single woman with two children. Madame is not at home.
“When we ring the bell, we notice that only Mr. H. is at home with the children. The gentleman is in sleeping clothes,” said the investigators.
A lot of criminal money has flowed into Turkey for the purchase of real estate or investment in companies.
For example, the refugee Bayram Y. bought a new villa with a swimming pool in Didim (Turkey), in addition to other building plots.
The police in Turkey has for the time being ignored requests for cooperation in the Antwerp investigation. That is not surprising.
Muhsin Y. made the Turkish media 13 years ago with the six-day wedding of his son Mecit.
The mayor himself at the party couldn’t stop guests from losing thousands of shots in salvo to the newlyweds.
The prosecutor’s office in Belgium has completed the investigation against the mafia organization and is asking for the prosecution of suspects.
A lawsuit against the clan comes ten earliest in the spring.
Source: Belgian media