Italian prosecutor reveals dark plans of Turkish mafia boss

On September 9, 2022, Jovan Vukotic, the leader of the Skaljara, a notorious Serbian mafia group, was gunned down by a hit squad while traveling with his wife and child in Istanbul. The attack was the culmination of years of violence between rival Serbian mafia groups.

The seeds of this bloody feud were sown in 2014 when Spanish authorities seized 300 kilos of drugs. The Kavac Organization, another Serbian mafia, blamed the Skaljara for the loss. Retaliation was swift, with Kavac making several assassination attempts on Vukotic. The most audacious attempt came when poison was found in Vukotic’s prison food while he was being held in Serbia. Although the attempt failed, it led to the dismissal of 100 officials for their involvement in the conspiracy.

Vukotic, who had evaded death several times, eventually became the target of the Daltonlar, an emerging Turkish mafia group hired by the Kavacs. The Daltons introduced the violent tactics of Latin American mafias to Turkey, using motorcycle-mounted hit squads to eliminate their enemies. They reportedly received $1.5 million for Vukotic’s execution.

Aftermath of Vukotic’s death

The death of Jovan Vukotic sparked a brutal wave of retaliation. Just two days after his murder, six men loyal to Baris Boyun, the leader of the Daltonlar, were executed in Greece. The violence did not stop there. On September 18, 2022, Edip Yalcin, another close associate of Boyun, was murdered in Georgia. Meanwhile, Boyun himself, wanted by Interpol, was arrested by Italian police. The subsequent indictment revealed terrifying plans, including a failed plot to bomb one of Istanbul’s most prestigious shopping malls.

Mafia confrontation: Bomb threat at iconic Istanbul shopping mall

Baris Boyun’s plans went beyond cross-border assassinations. According to the Italian indictment, Boyun had plotted to bomb Vadi Istanbul, a luxury shopping mall in Turkey. The reason behind this audacious plan? Vadi Istanbul was reportedly under the protection of the Saral mafia, one of Turkey’s largest criminal organizations.

The Saral and Sahin mafia groups have been locked in a bitter feud since 2004, a feud that began over a financial dispute and escalated after the murder of Saral leader Huseyin Saral in 2005. In retaliation, the Sarals murdered Vedat Sahin, the brother of Sahin leader Sedat Sahin. The feud has since claimed countless lives, with smaller mafia groups taking sides.

Drug factories and arms trade: Baris Boyun’s growing empire

As revealed by the Italian prosecutor, Boyun was not only focused on domestic operations. He allegedly set up an ecstasy factory in Bulgaria and was involved in arms trafficking across Europe. His arsenal allegedly included machine guns, M16s, Uzi submachine guns and Glock pistols, with storage facilities in Switzerland. “He can arm and equip his men for any need, anywhere in Europe, even in Turkey,” the Milan prosecutor’s office said, emphasizing Boyun’s far-reaching power.

He is also close to popular mafia leader Sedat Peker

The Italian indictment also highlighted Boyun’s connection to Sedat Peker, one of Turkey’s most notorious mafia leaders. Peker, who gained widespread attention for his YouTube videos accusing government officials of corruption, reportedly had a close relationship with Boyun. In a recorded conversation, Boyun reassured his associate Ibrahim Gumustekin, saying: “We are friends with Sedat Peker; anyone who has a grudge against us is united, we are also united.”

Boyun even claimed that Peker had arranged for an Italian lawyer to represent him during his captivity in Italy.

Two Rival Mafia Groups: Daltons vs RedkitS

The Daltons, affiliated with Baris Boyun, have also become embroiled in a turf war with another Turkish mafia group, the Redkits. The conflict revolves around control of the stands of Fenerbahce, one of Turkey’s biggest football clubs. Cem Golbasi, backed by the Daltons, is taking on Ferhat Mardin, the leader of the Redkits, in a battle that has spilled over into Georgia.

This ongoing power struggle shows how deeply the rivalry between the mafia and Turkish society has penetrated, extending from the underworld to the world of football, politics and much more.