By Tursun Uyghur
May 22, 2025
ISTANBUL, TURKEY — In a major blow to China’s global Spy Network , Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MİT) has uncovered and dismantled a sophisticated Chinese espionage network operating in Turkish territory. The seven-member spy ring was caught using fake base stations—high-tech surveillance devices known as IMSI catchers—to collect sensitive data from Turkish officials and Uyghurs, and then funnel it directly to servers in China.
MİT Uncovers a Transnational Spy Network
The operation, executed in coordination with the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, took place across five cities: Istanbul, Izmir, Manisa, Balıkesir, and Bursa. All seven suspects were arrested red-handed, according to CNN Türk’s Istanbul News Director Nihat Uludağ. The group had installed unauthorized mobile base stations disguised as legitimate cell towers to intercept communications, including call logs, location data, and user identities.
Investigators discovered that the surveillance devices were manufactured in China and were transmitting the intercepted data to Chinese IP addresses. Uyghur Turks—many of whom reside in exile in Turkey—were among the primary targets, along with Turkish public officials.
How the Operation Unfolded
The MİT investigation was initiated after mobile users reported receiving suspicious text messages purporting to be from Turkish government agencies and companies. This led intelligence agents to discover an illegal surveillance network embedded across several provinces.
The group is accused of smuggling surveillance equipment into Turkey in separate components, using different couriers to avoid detection. One of the suspects claimed he was in Turkey to film a commercial, a claim investigators quickly discredited. Authorities say the equipment was smuggled illegally and reassembled in Turkey to carry out covert surveillance.
The suspects are now facing charges of political and military espionage, a grave offense under Turkish law.
Impact on the Uyghur Community and National Security
This revelation has triggered fear and outrage among Turkey’s Uyghur diaspora, one of the largest outside of China. Many Uyghurs living in Turkey fled persecution in the Uyghur homeland and now fear that even in exile, they are not safe from the Chinese state.
“This is further proof that China’s persecution of Uyghurs does not end at its borders,” said a Uyghur activist based in Istanbul, who requested anonymity for security reasons.
The discovery adds to growing concerns over China’s campaign of transnational repression, which includes surveillance, harassment, and coercion of dissidents and minority groups living abroad. The use of IMSI catcher technology in Turkey—often restricted to intelligence agencies—signals a bold and illegal incursion into Turkey’s sovereign digital space.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has long used technology and cyber tools to surveil Uyghurs globally, especially in countries with large diaspora populations like Turkey. Espionage activities by Chinese operatives have been previously documented in Europe, North America, and Central Asia, but this is one of the most aggressive and well-coordinated attempts uncovered to date on Turkish soil.
IMSI catchers, sometimes referred to as “stingrays,” are capable of mimicking legitimate mobile towers. They intercept phone signals, enabling the collection of calls, texts, metadata, and even the deployment of phishing attacks via fake SMS messages or apps. Some Turkish citizens unknowingly entered personal and financial information into malicious links embedded in those messages.
Government Response and Continued Investigation
MİT’s swift action in neutralizing this threat is being praised as a major national security success. Turkish authorities are continuing their investigation into customs and border entry records to identify additional collaborators or smuggling channels. They are also evaluating whether more such devices may be active in the country.
“This firm stance against foreign intelligence operations demonstrates Turkey’s commitment to sovereignty and to protecting vulnerable communities,” said a senior Turkish official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
A Wake-Up Call for Global Democracies
As China expands its authoritarian reach beyond its borders, this case serves as a stark reminder of the growing threat of transnational repression. The arrest of the seven operatives sends a strong message that Turkey will not tolerate illegal espionage activities—especially those that violate the rights of exiled and vulnerable populations like the Uyghurs.
The Turkish government is expected to prosecute the suspects to the fullest extent of the law, while also enhancing surveillance and immigration protocols to prevent future breaches.
For the Uyghur diaspora and Turkish citizens alike, the bust is a sobering affirmation that foreign intelligence threats are not theoretical—they are real, invasive, and ongoing.