Turkish Authorities Arrest 2,795 Individuals in Nationwide Anti-Drug Campaign

Synopsis

In a significant nationwide effort, Turkish police have detained 2,795 individuals implicated in drug trafficking. This operation, named 'Narkokapan-9', has led to the seizure of over one tonne of narcotics and millions of drug pills, highlighting Turkey's ongoing battle against drug smuggling.

Key Takeaways

2,795 suspects detained in drug operations.
Operation 'Narkokapan-9' resulted in major drug seizures.
Extensive involvement of police teams and resources.
Focus on protecting Turkish youth from drug abuse.
Ongoing crackdown on drug trafficking in Turkey since 2023.

Ankara, Jan 23 (NationPress) Turkish police have apprehended 2,795 suspects during a sweeping nationwide operation aimed at combating drug trafficking, as reported by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya on Thursday.

In the operation dubbed "Narkokapan-9," authorities confiscated over one tonne of narcotics and 13.8 million narcotic pills, as per Yerlikaya's announcement on the social media platform X, details regarding the timing of the operation were not disclosed.

The operation involved 4,192 teams, 10,480 personnel, 47 UAVs and helicopters, along with 98 drug-sniffing dogs across 77 provinces in Turkey, according to Yerlikaya.

Yerlikaya shared video footage on his X account, displaying police conducting raids on various apartments and buildings to detain suspects, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

Turkey, strategically positioned between Asia and Europe, has faced challenges with international drug trafficking for years.

In a previous operation last week, Turkish police seized 11.225 million drug pills and over 1.2 tonnes of precursor chemicals in a significant bust in Istanbul, according to Yerlikaya.

Additionally, police detained 11 suspected drug manufacturers, with details on the timing of this operation not provided.

The authorities also confiscated 364 kg of empty capsules, six drug pill production machines, and 73 aluminum blister rolls, as stated by Yerlikaya.

Yerlikaya emphasized that these operations are crucial for protecting Turkey's youth from the dangers of drug abuse.

"Every operation we conduct and every substance we seize is a step towards protecting our future. Keeping our youth away from drugs is a shared responsibility," he remarked.

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

During the previous year, Turkish police detained numerous suspects linked to drug offenses and confiscated a substantial quantity of narcotics.

In September, law enforcement seized 479 kg of narcotics and 160,967 pills in coordinated operations across 42 provinces, utilizing the assistance of seven police teams, 1,418 personnel, 12 aerial vehicles, and 37 narcotic detection dogs.