A 49-year-old man wanted by Interpol and serving a 20-year sentence by a top court in Turkey for involvement in a criminal organization that committed extortion has been arrested in Thessaloniki.

The Turkish national, against whom an Interpol international wanted notice was pending, was arrested at noon on Wednesday by officers of the Northern Greece Anti-Organized Crime Sub-Directorate. Information gathered by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) was used to locate and arrest him.

According to information, the arrested man was sentenced by the Istanbul High Criminal Court to 20 years in prison for participating in a criminal group that forced debtors to pay debts to creditors using threats, intimidation, coercion, fear, and violence. According to the prosecution documents, these acts were committed in Istanbul.

Turkish judicial authorities are seeking his extradition to serve a remaining sentence of 15 years and 10 months.

The 49-year-old Turkish national was taken at noon Thursday to the Thessaloniki Prosecutor’s Office of Appeals to start the procedures related to the Turkish request. According to reports, the man claims he is being prosecuted politically while he reportedly denies the charges. In addition, he claims to have applied for asylum in Greece.

He will remain in custody until the competent Judicial Council gives its opinion on the issue of his extradition.