A fresh wave of mafia-style shootings in Turkey has once again cast a spotlight on fugitive crime boss Sedat Peker, who has been living abroad for several years. Despite being the subject of arrest warrants circulated through INTERPOL and facing multiple criminal charges in Turkey, Peker remains outside the reach of Turkish law enforcement. From his base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), he is widely alleged to continue directing loyal operatives and settling scores in Turkey’s criminal underworld.

The most recent incident occurred in September 2025 in Gölcük, where Süleyman Yasin Akdeniz, known by the nickname “Hacı,” was shot in both legs. The attack bore the hallmarks of a calculated warning rather than a spontaneous act of violence. Akdeniz had reportedly fallen out with Peker and had published images of handwritten letters attributed to him, moves that allegedly embarrassed the fugitive boss and challenged his authority. The leg shooting – a common tactic in Turkey’s criminal ecosystem – appeared designed to silence and intimidate without immediately provoking the full legal and political repercussions of a homicide.

This incident fits into a broader pattern that observers say has emerged since Peker left Turkey. Roughly a dozen violent acts, including two fatal shootings, have reportedly been linked to individuals associated with him. Many of the victims were former allies, rivals or outspoken critics. In Turkey’s underworld culture, such attacks serve not only to punish but also to send a message: reputational dominance is everything.

Peker’s name carries particular weight because of his long and complicated history. Emerging in the 1990s as a powerful organized crime figure, he built influence through racketeering, extortion and alleged involvement in violent networks. Over time, he forged relationships with political actors, particularly within the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its ultranationalist ally, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

For years, Peker positioned himself as an enforcer of nationalist causes. In the 2010s, he issued fiery public threats against academics who signed petitions calling for a peaceful resolution to Turkey’s Kurdish conflict. He also lashed out at members of the Gülen movement, inspired by the late cleric Fethullah Gülen, which became a fierce critic of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. His rhetoric was often extreme, reinforcing his image as a man who blended criminal muscle with political messaging.

But alliances in Turkey’s power structure are rarely permanent. When some of Peker’s reported political patrons lost influence, he found himself increasingly exposed to legal jeopardy. Around 2019, he left Turkey, first moving through the Balkans and parts of Africa before settling in Dubai. From there, he dramatically reentered public debate by releasing a series of YouTube videos alleging corruption and misconduct by senior Turkish officials, including figures once considered close to him.

Those videos, watched by millions, unsettled Ankara and fueled public discussion about alleged links between politics and organized crime. However, Peker’s disclosures were widely seen as shaped by personal vendettas and survival instincts rather than altruistic whistleblowing. Eventually, the videos stopped. Reports suggested that Emirati authorities had pressured him into silence, while other accounts claimed that intermediaries arranged a financial settlement to curb further revelations.

Silence, however, did not signal retirement. According to Turkish prosecutors, Peker’s criminal cases remain active. In May 2021, Turkey sent two extradition files to Emirati authorities outlining accusations that include forming and leading a criminal organization, armed robbery and exploiting the intimidating power of such an organization. An INTERPOL Red Notice was issued on February 1, 2022. Turkish Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç raised the matter again during an official visit to the UAE in December 2024, underscoring Ankara’s continued push for extradition.

Despite these formal steps, Peker has not been returned to Turkey. The persistence of violent incidents allegedly linked to his network suggests that geographic distance has not severed his operational reach. In today’s digital and transnational landscape, exile does not necessarily mean irrelevance. Encrypted communications, trusted intermediaries and financial channels can allow criminal enterprises to function across borders.

Among the most high-profile episodes attributed to the ongoing feud dynamics were attacks on rival figures who publicly criticized Peker. Semih Tufan Gülaltay, a longtime adversary, survived multiple shootings, one of which left another person dead. Cenk Çelik, who posted critical videos online, was shot in 2022 and later died from his injuries. Other individuals, including underworld personalities and media-linked figures, were wounded in leg-shooting incidents after speaking out or allegedly crossing invisible red lines.

In Turkey’s criminal culture, such methods are deliberate. Shooting someone in the legs serves as both punishment and warning – painful enough to assert dominance but calibrated to avoid the intense scrutiny that follows a political assassination. The cumulative effect is chilling. Critics fall silent. Rivals retreat. The message spreads.

For Turkey, the situation highlights deeper structural challenges. Organized crime in the country has long intersected with political rivalries, nationalist movements and security debates. When powerful figures cultivate informal ties with state actors, disentangling those relationships can be messy and fraught.

For the UAE, the case underscores the diplomatic sensitivity of hosting high-profile fugitives. While extradition requests are subject to legal review and bilateral agreements, delays can carry political costs. International law enforcement mechanisms such as INTERPOL notices depend heavily on the cooperation and political will of member states.

Ultimately, the resurgence of violence tied to personal vendettas demonstrates that Sedat Peker’s influence has not evaporated with exile. His authority appears rooted in fear, loyalty networks and a carefully maintained image of retribution. Each new shooting reinforces that brand.

For Turkish authorities, the challenge is twofold: pursuing accountability through legal channels abroad while dismantling domestic networks that enable remote control operations. Until both fronts are addressed effectively, the perception will endure that one of Turkey’s most notorious crime bosses can still project power from afar – shaping events at home while living beyond the immediate reach of the courts.

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