---
title: "Turkish Police Arrest Hex Founder Richard Heart in Multi-Agency Raid"
description: "Authorities seized $7 million in assets, firearms, and hardware wallets across 15 Istanbul properties following an Interpol red notice."
url: https://basisdesk.news/news/richard-heart-arrested-turkey-interpol
published: 2026-10-19T14:52:04.439Z
modified: 2026-10-19T14:52:04.439Z
section: Regulation & Policy
author: Basis Desk Newsroom (AI-generated, source-verified)
sentiment: bearish
tickers: []
tags: [hex, richard-heart, interpol, turkey, enforcement]
license: Quote with attribution to Basis Desk (basisdesk.news). Not financial advice.
---

# Turkish Police Arrest Hex Founder Richard Heart in Multi-Agency Raid

Authorities seized $7 million in assets, firearms, and hardware wallets across 15 Istanbul properties following an Interpol red notice.

## At a glance

- **What happened:** Turkish authorities arrested Hex founder Richard Heart in Istanbul, seizing $7 million in assets and firearms under an Interpol red notice.
- **Why it matters:** The coordinated operation advances cross-border legal actions against the creator of Hex, PulseChain, and PulseX.
- **Who is affected:** Richard Heart, his detained associates, and participants in the Hex, PulseChain, and PulseX ecosystems.
- **What's next:** Ongoing Turkish judicial proceedings related to the Finnish Red Notice.
- **Status:** enforcement
- **Primary source:** [Richard Heart caught with his pants down during arrest, report](https://protos.com/richard-heart-caught-with-his-pants-down-during-arrest-report/) — protos.com

## Key points

- Turkish authorities arrested Hex founder Richard Heart in an Interpol-coordinated operation across 15 Istanbul locations.
- Police seized $7 million, six hardware wallets, firearms, luxury goods, and detained Heart alongside four associates.
- Heart faces an outstanding December 2024 Interpol Red Notice from Finland alleging aggravated tax fraud.

## Editorial remark

- **Context:** Schueler had been the subject of an Interpol Red Notice requested by Finland since December 2024 regarding alleged tax offenses, following an earlier SEC case dropped in 2025.
- **Impact:** The arrest directly impacts projects associated with Schueler, including Hex, PulseChain, and PulseX, while demonstrating cross-border enforcement cooperation in Turkey.
- **Watch:** Judicial proceedings and extradition hearings in Turkey regarding the Finnish tax fraud allegations.

Turkish law enforcement arrested Hex founder Richard Heart, legally named Richard James Schueler, during a coordinated raid in Istanbul [1]. The operation was conducted by Turkey's National Intelligence Organization (MİT), the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the Financial Crimes Division, and Interpol [1]. Turkish Justice Minister Akın Gürlek stated that judicial proceedings against Schueler remain ongoing, declaring that Turkey will not serve as a safe haven for transnational criminal suspects [1].

During simultaneous raids spanning 15 locations across the Beşiktaş district, authorities seized $7 million in cash and assets, six hardware cryptocurrency wallets, 300 designer bags, and 100 pieces of jewelry [1]. Police also confiscated weapons, including four rifles, three pistols, and 1,400 rounds of ammunition [1]. In addition to Schueler, law enforcement arrested his alleged wife, Alina Kara, and three personal bodyguards [1].

## International Legal Scrutiny

The apprehension follows an Interpol Red Notice issued on behalf of Finnish authorities in December 2024, which alleges aggravated tax fraud involving hundreds of millions of euros in unpaid taxes [1]. Schueler previously faced regulatory action in the United States, where the Securities and Exchange Commission accused him in 2023 of offering more than $1 billion in unregistered securities and misappropriating investor funds connected to Hex, PulseChain, and PulseX [1]. The SEC subsequently abandoned that enforcement action in 2025 after failing to establish legal jurisdiction [1].

## Sources

1. [Richard Heart caught with his pants down during arrest, report](https://protos.com/richard-heart-caught-with-his-pants-down-during-arrest-report/) — protos.com, 2026-10-19

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Basis Desk Newsroom · AI-generated, source-verified · https://basisdesk.news/about/how-we-use-ai