July 7, 2004

ICE AGENTS TARGET TURKISH CRIME RING

Long Island—U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents executed four arrest warrants and searched more than a dozen gas stations, mini-marts and residences in the Long Island, NY area as part of an enforcement action targeting an alleged Turkish organized crime ring suspected of violating money laundering and immigration laws to raise and move millions of dollars overseas.

"This action targeted a highly-structured and organized criminal enterprise that flaunted our nation's laws to raise staggering sums of money," said Martin Ficke, ICE-New York's Special Agent in Charge. "An important part of protecting the homeland is ensuring that our economic and immigration systems are not abused by criminal elements. ICE is committed to using its considerable assets and authorities to deny criminal organizations the ability to earn, store or move illicit funds," he said.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division was the lead law enforcement agency and executed 12 warrants for money laundering and structuring.

Other agencies involved were the U.S. Department of Labor, Nassau and Suffolk County Police Departments and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. The U.S. Attorney's Eastern District of New York (Central Islip Office) is prosecuting the case.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.