Turkey busts Chinese spying ring using fake cell towers

Middle East Eye

21-05-2025

A Chinese intelligence ring was shattered in Turkey after its operatives reportedly eavesdropped on Uyghurs and Turkish officials using fake mobile towers.
Turkish intelligence announced earlier this month that it had caught seven suspects red-handed.
Their vehicles were found carrying IMSI-catcher devices, which function as fake base stations to collect data, phone logs, conversations and other information from nearby phones.
Intelligence sources indicated that some members of the ring had entered Turkey in March. However, a CNN Turk report on Tuesday revealed that the operation had been active for the past five years.
The cell's leader, a Chinese citizen identified by the initials ZL, allegedly arrived in Turkey five years ago to establish the groundwork for the intelligence operation. This included setting up shell companies, such as a logistics firm and an import-export company, and learning Turkish to better coordinate the efforts.
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The report stated that the suspects, all Chinese citizens, established a sophisticated operation that was self-funded by preying on regular Turkish citizens.
They allegedly hacked into bank accounts to drain savings for operational expenses, while their primary aim was to collect personal information belonging to Uyghurs and Turkish officials.
IMSI-catcher devices mimic legitimate mobile phone tower signals. When a target's phone comes within approximately 50 metres of an active ghost base station, it connects to the device, believing it to be a normal cell tower.
Handout pictures released by the Turkish security forces show the IMSI-Catcher devices on two separate cars.
The intercepted data, including communication details and location coordinates, was reportedly sent directly to a handler in China, whom the spies referred to as the "big boss".
Investigators were reportedly surprised by how these devices were smuggled into Turkey without detection.
The smuggling was carried out in parts: one courier would bring only the antennas, another would bring only the batteries on a separate flight, and others would transport the remaining components on different trips to conceal the equipment's true nature.
Uyghurs and Turkish officials targeted
The ring's primary focus was on Uyghur Turks residing in Turkey, particularly those perceived by Beijing as being involved in anti-China activities.
The spies monitored their targets' communications, contacts (both in Turkey and China), and movements in Istanbul, Izmir, Manisa, Balikesir and Bursa.
They also targeted Turkish public officials, aiming to identify which were in contact with the targeted Uyghurs or groups and potentially gather other sensitive information.
While authorities believe ZL was a specially trained spy, other members did not appear to have specific talents.
For example, ZYB, another Chinese citizen, only had a primary school education. His role was to transport the ghost base station in a vehicle, position it near targets and operate the device by simply turning it on and off.
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WR, also Chinese, claimed during his interrogation that he was an elevator repairman in China, likely a cover identity. Four other people are believed to have acted as couriers, bringing the device parts into Turkey.
All seven suspects denied being part of a ring and claimed not to know each other. However, investigators reportedly have evidence that they held meetings periodically and were in contact.
Turkish officials believe this ring represents one of the most comprehensive spying operations uncovered in Turkey to date.
They contrasted it with other espionage rings, such as those linked to Israelis and Iranians, which typically hired private detectives or local operatives for simpler tasks like placing GPS devices on targeted cars, conducting visual surveillance or attempting kidnappings.
The Chinese spy ring, however, did not use paid operatives and employed sophisticated technology to hack targeted individuals.
Turkey is home to a large Uyghur diaspora that fled a Chinese crackdown on their culture and Islamic identity.
Rights groups accuse China of conducting a campaign of repression amounting to genocide, particularly since 2014, when tens of thousands of Uyghurs were reportedly detained in "re-education" camps. China denies the accusations.
Last year, Turkey arrested seven Chinese citizens of Uyghur background, accusing them of spying on other Uyghurs and organisations. The defendants claimed they were coerced into spying after Chinese intelligence officers threatened to harass their family members back in China.