An Istanbul court has ordered the pre-trial detention of 40 executives from major fruit and vegetable distribution firms following accusations of artificial price inflation. The legal action stems from an investigation titled “The Price Journey from Farm to Market,” led by the Organized Crime Investigations Bureau. While warrants were issued for 41 individuals, one suspect remains at large. Law enforcement conducted raids across 109 locations in 22 provinces as part of the inquiry. Authorities are currently analyzing sales data provided by the Ministry of Trade, the Turkish Competition Board, and various wholesale markets. Additionally, the Tax Inspection Board has interviewed over 1,000 farmers to gather evidence. Although prosecutors allege that these executives engaged in excessive pricing practices, specific details regarding the extent of the price hikes have not yet been released to the public.
Source : Turkish Minute
