Prosecutors in Istanbul have alleged that so-called “new generation mafia” networks are systematically recruiting children aged 15 to 18 for armed attacks and street-level criminal operations, according to recent indictments in major organized crime investigations.
The allegations, reported by Turkish outlet T24 Gender, suggest that young teenagers are being pushed into roles ranging from armed assailants to lookouts and couriers, often through a combination of cash promises and intimidation. Prosecutors say these practices allow gangs to expand their operational capacity while exploiting legal protections and reduced sentences that apply to minors under Turkish law.
The indictments stem from investigations led by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office into several organized crime groups, including a network allegedly linked to mob figure Barış Boyun. In case files running to roughly 300 pages, prosecutors describe a pattern in which children from low-income families are targeted, drawn into the orbit of criminal organizations and then deployed in high-risk operations.
According to the files, suspects in the Boyun investigation are accused of bringing some minors from other cities to Istanbul specifically to use them as “hitmen,” “lookouts” and “bodyguards.” Prosecutors argue that gang leaders deliberately select under-18s to carry out operations in order to benefit from the different trial procedures and sentencing regimes that apply to children in conflict with the law.
Testimonies cited in the indictments portray a dual strategy of seduction and coercion. Some youths were allegedly first approached with “job offers” promising quick and easy money in return for simple tasks. When they hesitated or refused, threats reportedly followed. In one statement quoted by prosecutors, a child claimed he was forced into an armed action after being told, “If you don’t do it, I’ll kill you.”
The documents also suggest that once inside these networks, leaving becomes increasingly difficult. Children who try to disengage are said to face pressure, harassment or direct threats, turning what began as a “temporary job” into an ongoing entanglement with organized crime. Beyond armed attacks, prosecutors say minors have been used in extortion schemes, workplace shootings, reconnaissance and surveillance operations, as well as courier work.
Official data on juvenile crime appears to mirror the growing concern. The number of children recorded by security agencies as “driven to crime” reportedly rose from around 179,000 in 2023 to approximately 202,000 in 2024. While these figures cover all forms of juvenile offending, not only organized crime, they are cited in the case files as evidence of a wider trend of vulnerability and exploitation.
Experts consulted in the indictments and related reporting argue that the response must go beyond criminal investigations. They highlight several priority areas for policymakers: reducing school dropout rates, expanding social support systems for at-risk families, strengthening programs to combat addiction and developing targeted preventive initiatives for children in high-risk neighborhoods.
The case files ultimately depict minors as the “most fragile and most easily steered” link in organized crime structures—individuals whose economic hardship, need for shelter and search for belonging are being weaponized by networks that see them as expendable assets rather than children in need of protection.