Turkish Authorities Confiscate Almost 1.8 Million Illegal Drug Pills, Arrest Three Individuals

Istanbul, Jan 10 (NationPress) Turkish authorities confiscated close to 1.8 million illegal drug pills and arrested three individuals in a significant operation conducted in Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey, according to the interior ministry's announcement on Friday.

The ministry reported on social media platform X that the police initiated the operation in the Kucukcekmece and Esenyurt districts, located on the European side of the city.

A video released by the ministry depicted armed units breaking into a manufacturing facility, uncovering substantial amounts of pills packed in boxes, prepared for distribution.

During the raids, three suspected manufacturers were apprehended, and various pieces of equipment, including pill press machines, vacuum machines, and a precision scale essential for the production process, were seized.

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya emphasized on his X account the significance of combating drug trafficking and production, asserting it is not merely a security concern but also vital for protecting the future.

"We are present on every street, every avenue, every corner! We do not tolerate poison dealers. We do not and will not allow them to darken the future of our children," the minister stated, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.

Since the beginning of 2023, Turkey has intensified its efforts against drug smuggling.

Last year, Turkish police detained hundreds of suspects involved in drug trafficking and confiscated a significant quantity of narcotics.

In September, authorities seized 479 kg of narcotics and 160,967 pills during simultaneous operations across 42 provinces, aided by seven police teams, 1,418 personnel, twelve aerial vehicles, and 37 narcotic detector dogs.

The entire operation was named 'Narkocelik-37'.

A senior Turkish minister also shared footage of the confiscated narcotics and operations, showcasing police teams apprehending suspects.