Massive Crackdown on Illegal Weapons: “Mercek-23” Operation Leads to 2,439 Arrests in Turkey
Turkey’s Minister of Interior, Mr. Ali Yerlikaya, announced that during the “Mercek-23” operations targeting illegal arms dealers and those carrying unlicensed firearms, 2,439 suspects have been processed, and 2,269 weapons have been seized over the past five days.
In total, the operations have resulted in the seizure of:
– 1,289 unlicensed pistols,
– 387 converted blank-firing pistols,
– 32 long-barreled rifles,
– 561 unlicensed hunting rifles.
Here is a breakdown of the top five cities where most unlicensed arms were confiscated, and arrests were made:
– In Istanbul, 222 pistols and 21 hunting rifles were seized, resulting in 337 arrests.
– In Konya, 160 pistols and 29 hunting rifles were seized, resulting in 79 arrests.
– In Adana, 77 pistols and 17 hunting rifles were seized, resulting in 146 arrests.
– In Izmir, 59 pistols and 24 hunting rifles were seized, resulting in 105 arrests.
– In Ankara, 55 pistols and 21 hunting rifles were seized, resulting in 127 arrests.
The nationwide “Mercek-23” operations were conducted by the Provincial Gendarmerie Commands and Provincial Police Departments across all 81 provinces. The operations involved raids on homes, workplaces, public areas, and road checks, leading to the confiscation of 2,269 unlicensed weapons.
Minister Yerlikaya shared this news via his official Twitter account, underscoring the significant success the security forces have achieved in combating illegal arms trafficking and possession.