Turkey ‘neutralizes’ 120 terrorists in October

ANKARA

Turkey “neutralized” at least 120 terrorists in countrywide operations in October, the country’s Interior Ministry said on Friday.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

In a statement, the ministry said a total of 10,239 operations, including eight large-scale and 43 medium-scale operations, were carried out against terrorists in rural areas.

A total of 1,539 operations were also conducted in metropolitans as part of domestic security operations, it added.

"120 terrorists were neutralized in operations. 92 of the neutralized terrorists were members of the KCK/PKK terrorist group, 24 were DAESH terrorists and four others were far-left terror group members," the statement said.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

In 2013, Turkey became one of the first countries to declare Daesh/ISIS a terrorist group.

The country has since been attacked by Daesh/ISIS terrorists multiple times, with at least 10 suicide bombings, seven bomb attacks, and four armed attacks, killing 315 people and injuring hundreds more.

The Interior Ministry said at least 422 of 2,700 arrested suspects were remanded in custody for being in contact, aiding, and abetting terrorist groups.

Security forces also destroyed a total of 96 shelters, caves and hideouts, seized 136 weapons -- 79 of them were heavy and long-barreled arms -- 50 mines, 350 kilograms (772 pounds) of explosives materials and over 17,500 rounds of various ammunition.

- Anti-drug, contraband operations

Moreover, a total of 18,357 anti-drug and contraband operations were carried out, during which 24,976 suspects were captured, according to the statement.

The raids led to the seizure of 9.7 tons of cannabis, 179 kg (395 pounds) of unpollinated cannabis, 1.5 tons of heroin, 463 kg (1021 pounds) of cocaine, 101 kg (222 pounds) of opium, 82 kg (181 pounds) of synthetic bonsai, 369 kg (814 pounds) of methamphetamine and over 1 million pills or other forms of illegal drugs along with over 1.6 million marijuana roots.

Also, in more than 2,300 operations against drug trafficking, 3,520 suspects were arrested.

Nearly 60,000 packs of illegal cigarettes and almost 300,000 liters (78,291 gallons) of smuggled oil were seized.

*Writing by Merve Aydogan