Turkish Intelligence Arrests Private Detective Alleged to be Spying for Mossad

On October 3, security sources reported that Turkish authorities detained a private detective in Istanbul, accusing him of working for Israel’s national intelligence agency, Mossad, in a joint operation involving prosecutors and police.

The suspect, identified as Serkan Çiçek, was detained during the operation code-named Metron Activity, Türkiye's National Intelligence Organization (MİT) informed the media, The Caspian Post reports citing Turkish media.

Security officials said he had been working for Mossad and was in contact with Faysal Rasheed, a member of Israel’s Online Operations Center.

Çiçek allegedly admitted to carrying out surveillance in Istanbul, at Rasheed’s request, on a Palestinian activist who opposes Israel’s Middle East policies.

According to Turkish intelligence, Çiçek, whose real name is Muhammet Fatih Keleş, changed his name after falling heavily into debt and left his business career to establish a private firm, Pandora Detective Agency, in 2020.

He is said to have worked with Musa Kuş, who was sentenced to 19 years in prison for spying for Israel, and with lawyer Tuğrulhan Dip, both of whom were found guilty of selling personal data from public records to detectives for profit.

Officials said Çiçek drew the attention of Mossad after launching his detective work. On July 31, Rasheed allegedly contacted him via WhatsApp, introducing himself as an employee of a foreign law firm.