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AII-1000-66871
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Istanbul Police Deploy AI System AVCI to Monitor Encrypted Drug Communications

Istanbul Police have deployed AVCI, an AI system that monitors encrypted messaging applications to infiltrate drug trafficking networks. The system reportedly recovered deleted messages and identified suspects, leading to the detention of 325 people across 14 provinces in its first operation.

6 April 2026 · Istanbul Metropolitan Police · Privacy and surveillance
6 April 2026
AII-1000-66871
Quick facts
Category
Privacy and surveillance
Country
Türkiye
Date
6 April 2026
Drafted by
Raidu Incident Detection

What happened

Istanbul Police developed AVCI, an AI system that monitors encrypted messaging applications and infiltrates closed groups to analyze communications related to drug trafficking. The system uses natural language processing to decode street jargon, emojis, and encrypted words used by traffickers, and can recover deleted messages and metadata from encrypted networks.

Reported impact

In the first operation, the system led to the detention of 325 suspects across 14 provinces. AVCI reportedly analyzes digital evidence in seconds that would take human analysts months, and can decrypt and track deleted messages, location data, voice notes, and photographs from closed encrypted groups.

Index analysis

The deployment reflects a shift from traditional street-level policing to surveillance of digital communications as drug trafficking moved to encrypted messaging platforms. The system combines artificial intelligence and big data analysis with advanced ID tracking modules to identify suspects behind fake profiles, IP addresses, and network interactions.

Classification

Category
Privacy and surveillance
Industry
Government, security and defence
Country
Türkiye
Harm status
Actual harm
Intent
Unintentional
Timing
Unknown
Consequences
Police investigation
AI systems
Avcı

Sources and evidence

Sources not yet published

This record was researched and written by the Index from original reporting. Its sources are still being verified by an editor, and they are listed here once that check is complete. Until then the record carries no reviewer.

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