ALWAGHT- On Tuesday, Turkish authorities revealed the arrest of Liridon Rexhepi, a Kosovo national, who has been identified as the head of Mossad's financial operations in Turkey.
The arrest comes as a result of a joint operation between Turkey's National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and Istanbul Police.
Liridon Rexhepi, a Kosovo national, was apprehended by the Counterterrorism and Operations Branch (TEM) of the Istanbul Police Department on August 30, 2024, after a thorough surveillance operation, according to the Turkish news website Haberler. Rexhepi, who had been monitored since his arrival in Turkey on August 25, was detained after MIT identified him as the person in charge of managing Mossad's financial network in the country.
Authorities disclosed that Rexhepi was involved in channeling funds to Mossad field agents in Turkey. These agents were reportedly engaged in activities such as using drones to film Mossad targets, conducting psychological operations against Palestinian politicians, and collecting intelligence on the situation in Syria.
The investigation revealed suspicious activity in Rexhepi's financial accounts, including numerous money transfers via Western Union to Mossad operatives in Turkey. These funds were allegedly used to support operations in Syria, with some transfers passing through Kosovo and other Eastern European countries.
During his detention, Rexhepi confessed to facilitating the money transfers. Following his admission, he was formally arrested by the court and is now in prison. MIT's operations have uncovered a substantial portion of Mossad's financial network in Turkey, revealing the use of both traditional money transfers and cryptocurrency to fund their activities in the region.
