In a significant international effort, Turkish, Spanish, and French police authorities orchestrated a major sting operation in Spain, known as “ARGAY,” which successfully dismantled an international drug cartel led by fugitive Kerim Dağlıoğlu. Dağlıoğlu had been sought under a Red Notice and was known under the alias Emre Karaca.
The operation was carried out with the participation of the Turkish Narcotics Crimes Division. A total of 42 cartel members, including Dağlıoğlu, who hail from various countries including Spain, Germany, Austria, Syria, Montenegro, Romania, Ukraine, Argentina, and Venezuela, were apprehended and taken into custody.
The operation, which commenced on June 11, following nine months of rigorous police collaboration, involved over 400 police officers from the French Police, Spain’s Guardia Civil, and the Turkish Police. Extensive searches in the cities of Granada, Malaga, and Seville resulted in the seizure of over 2 tons of cannabis, several firearms, luxury vehicles, and large amounts of cash.
In his statement, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya highlighted the international collaboration and the significant outcome of the operation. “Supported by Europol, Spanish, French, and Turkish narcotics police stood shoulder to shoulder against drug traffickers. We are determined to fight organized crime and drug cartels not just locally but globally. I congratulate our Narcotics Crimes Division and our brave police officers for being an integral part of this historic international operation. Our noble nation can rest assured; we will not allow drug traffickers to breathe freely anywhere in the world.”
The “ARGAY” operation marks a crucial step in the international fight against narcotics trafficking, showcasing the effectiveness of cross-border cooperation in bringing down sophisticated criminal networks.