Turkish authorities have arrested 16 adult content creators allegedly connected to OnlyFans, which is banned in the country, on suspicion of money laundering.
According to a statement from the Istanbul public prosecutor’s office on Friday, the arrests followed coordinated raids carried out on Thursday. During the operation, investigators reportedly confiscated assets valued at 300 million Turkish lira (approximately $6.9 million).
The seized assets include two companies, 10 real estate properties and 14 vehicles.
In its statement, the prosecutor’s office said, “Obscene images and videos were shared in violation of regulations on the platform OnlyFans, which is banned in Turkey, and through posts promoting this platform on other social media,” reportedly referencing activity on the messaging app Telegram.
Prosecutors further alleged that the suspects may have channelled their earnings into investments to conceal the source of the funds.
“There are strong indications the suspects laundered the proceeds of their obscene crimes through various investments,” the statement said, though it did not clarify whether all confiscated assets were purchased with income derived from OnlyFans.
Media reports indicated that the arrests were carried out in several locations, including Istanbul and the capital, Ankara. Of the 25 individuals named in the arrest warrant, 16 have been detained, while at least five are believed to be outside the country.
OnlyFans, a subscription-based platform widely used for adult content, was blocked in Turkey in June 2023 after a court ruled that material hosted on the site violated public morality and family values. Although inaccessible through standard internet access, the platform can still be reached using virtual private networks (VPNs).
