Don Vito Abdullah Alp Üstün was captured in the UAE! Üstün, detained in an international operation, was extradited to Türkiye. So, who is Abdullah Alp Üstün, where is he from, and why is he known by the nickname “Don Vito”?Don Vito Abdullah Alp Üstün was apprehended in the United Arab Emirates for alleged links to the international drug trade. The extradition of the baron, nicknamed Don Vito, who was wanted on a red notice, along with criminal organization member Hasan Lala, to Türkiye is being described as a major blow to the CHROOKE criminal organization. So, who is Abdullah Alp Üstün, where is he from, and why is he known by the nickname “Don Vito”? This operation, considered a turning point in Türkiye’s fight against organized crime, has once again brought the name Don Vito Abdullah Alp Üstün back into the spotlight.
Who is Abdullah Alp Ustun?
Known to the public as Don Vito Abdullah Alp Üstün, he has been in the news due to allegations of international drug trafficking and money laundering. Born in 1979, Üstün, 46, began his career exporting textiles and perfumes. The answer to the question of who Abdullah Alp Üstün is, is that he is a figure involved not only in the business world but also in international criminal networks. Üstün, who exported to Russia for many years, has attracted attention as the owner of three apartments in the Quasar Residence in Mecidiyeköy, Istanbul, and a luxury business in Bodrum.
Over time, these investments came under suspicion of money laundering and connections to a criminal organization. The nickname Don Vito Abdullah Alp Üstün was inspired by the character Don Vito Corleone from the legendary film “The Godfather.” Üstün’s son, Efe Alp Üstün, is also alleged to have been involved in the organization under the code name “Michael Corleone.”
Where is Abdullah Alp Ustun from?
The answer to the question of where Abdullah Alp Üstün is from is one of the most striking details in the case file. Üstün was born in Kastamonu. According to sources, he has a family connection to Dutch drug trafficking baron Joseph Johannes Leijdekkers (Tombul Jos). Don Vito Abdullah Alp Üstün’s wife, Nadia Alla, is the sister of Leijdekkers’ wife, Hanane Alla. This relationship strengthened the alleged drug trafficking connections between Türkiye and Europe.
“Don Vito” and Hasan Lala captured: Details of UAE operation
Abdullah Alp Üstün, nicknamed Don Vito, was apprehended through a joint effort between the General Directorate of Security’s Interpol-Europol Department, the Counter-Narcotics and Intelligence Directorates, and UAE security forces. The Aviation Department and Special Operations teams also participated in the operation. Üstün was wanted on charges of money laundering, drug trafficking, and establishing a criminal organization.
Minister Yerlikaya stated, “Thanks to international cooperation, we will continue to bring drug dealers to justice.” Don Vito, Abdullah Alp Üstün, and Hasan Lala were brought to Turkey this morning , and legal proceedings have begun.
What does the Don Vito Abdullah Alp Üstün case mean?
The answers to the questions of who Abdullah Alp Üstün is and where he is from now have not only biographical but also forensic significance. Experts state that the capture of Don Vito Abdullah Alp Üstün is an international victory in Türkiye’s fight against organized crime. Üstün, who fled after being arrested in 2023, is considered the culmination of years of surveillance.
The case is expected to bring new operations targeting the CHROOKE organization’s financial networks to the forefront. Don Vito Abdullah Alp Üstün is being cited as a model case for Türkiye’s justice system.
Abdullah Alp Üstün, nicknamed Don Vito, will continue to remain in the news, both with questions about his origins and his identity. The case of Don Vito Abdullah Alp Üstün, a figure linked to global criminal networks originating in Kastamonu, will remain a topic of public discussion.
🟥 Kırmızı Bültenle uluslararası seviyede aranan "Don Vito" lakaplı uyuşturucu baronu Abdullah Alp Üstün’le
❌ Kırmızı Difüzyon Mesajıyla uluslararası seviyede aranan uyuşturucu organize suç örgütü üyesi Hasan Lala isimli şahsın Birleşik Arap Emirlikleri'nde yakalanmaları ve bu… pic.twitter.com/xRld5WaFQY— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) October 11, 2025
Source: News Center
