Turkey: Over 100 arrested in anti-narcotics operations

By Huseyin Yildiz, Yusuf Koyun, Osman Oksuz

ANKARA

Turkish anti-narcotics forces arrested over 100 suspects in countrywide operations, officials said Tuesday.

According to police official, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media, security forces arrested three suspects in Kirikhan district of southern Hatay province.

He said 230 grams (0.51 pound) of hashish and one unlicensed shotgun with 33 cartridges were seized in the operation.

Also, anti-narcotics team rounded up 18 suspects in simultaneous operations in southern Adana, Mersin and northwestern Istanbul provinces, a security official said.

Over 11 kg (25 pounds) hashish, 600 g (1.3 pounds) heroin, 120 g (0.27 pounds) cocaine and 120 g (0.27 pounds) of methamphetamine were seized, the official added.

In southeastern Diyarbakir province, the forces took four suspects into custody, according to a statement issued by the provincial Governor’s Office.

The statement said the forces seized 280 kg (617 pounds) hashish and 99,572 plants of cannabis during operation in villages of Lice and Kocakoy districts.

In central Konya province, at least eight suspects were arrested in an anti-narcotics operation in Beysehir district last Saturday, a police official said.

Operation at cargo firm

Also, anti-narcotics forces seized 61 g (0,14 pounds) hashish, 3 g (0,007 pounds) methamphetamine, 1 unlicensed gun, 2 unlicensed rifles and 3 knives in western Usak province, a statement said Tuesday.

According to Usak Provincial Directorate of Security, at least 10 suspects were arrested in the province during operations on Sep. 8-18.

Meanwhile, Van Provincial Directorate of Security said that a suspect was arrested in the eastern province while 57 kg (125 pounds) hashish was recovered in a parked minibus.

In Istanbul province, anti-narcotics team launched an operation at a cargo firm, seizing 858 g (1.90 pounds) of opium gum.

Also, anti-narcotics forces seized 53 g (0.12 pounds) hashish and 5,040 pieces of smuggled cigarettes in central Sivas province, an official, who wants to be unnamed due to restrictions on talking to the media, told Anadolu Agency Tuesday.

15 suspects were also taken into custody, he added.

In southern Kilis province, the forces conducted an operation near Oncupinar border gate and seized around 3 million drug pills in a truck coming from Syria to Turkey. One suspect was also arrested.

Three suspects each were also arrested in central Kayseri and southern Mersin provinces, while nine in northwestern Bursa province and 48 in Izmir were also arrested in separate anti-narcotics operations.