Massive Drug Bust: Over 1.5 Tons of Narcotics Seized in ‘NARKOÇELİK-33’ Operation Across 18 Provinces
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced today that a large-scale anti-narcotics operation, named “NARKOÇELİK-33,” was conducted in 18 provinces, resulting in the seizure of 1.521 tons of illegal substances.
The operations targeted drug manufacturers and dealers and were coordinated by the General Command of Gendarmerie’s Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Department. The provinces involved in the operations included Diyarbakır, Şanlıurfa, Antalya, Bingöl, Kocaeli, Kırklareli, Sakarya, Manisa, Edirne, Adana, Sinop, Karabük, Isparta, Mardin, Iğdır, Erzurum, Batman, and Tekirdağ.
Key Statistics:
In total, the “NARKOÇELİK-33” operations resulted in the seizure of:
– 1.521 tons of narcotics
– 11,936,886 root cannabis and root skunk plants
– 4,544 narcotic pills
Furthermore, 63 drug dealers and street vendors were apprehended, with 46 subsequently taken into custody. One individual was placed under judicial control, with proceedings against the rest still ongoing.
Detailed Breakdown by Province:
– **Diyarbakır**:
– Seized: 1.163 tons of cannabis, 8,663,938 root cannabis, 1,193,600 root skunk plants
– Arrests: 10 drug dealers, all in custody
– **Şanlıurfa**:
– Seized: 28 kg of methamphetamine
– Arrests: 1 drug dealer, in custody
– **Antalya**:
– Seized: 12 kg of methamphetamine, 14 kg skunk, 1,172 root cannabis, 118 root skunk, 20 kg magic mushrooms, 700 narcotic pills
– Arrests: 7 drug dealers, all in custody
– **Bingöl**:
– Seized: 171 kg of cannabis, 8,984 root cannabis
– **Kocaeli**:
– Seized: 23 kg of synthetic cannabinoids (Bonzai)
– Arrests: 8 drug dealers, all in custody
– **Kırklareli**:
– Seized: 1,431,308 root cannabis plants
– Arrests: 7 drug dealers, processing ongoing
– **Sakarya**:
– Seized: 24 kg of cannabis, 10 kg skunk, 1,255 root cannabis
– Arrests: 1 drug dealer, in custody
– **Manisa**:
– Seized: 3.5 kg of cannabis, 368 root cannabis
– Arrests: 4 drug dealers, all in custody
– **Edirne**:
– Seized: 289,200 root cannabis plants
– Arrests: 4 drug dealers
– **Adana**:
– Seized: 3 kg of cannabis
– Arrests: 2 drug dealers, both in custody
– **Sinop**:
– Seized: 6.5 kg of cannabis, 521 root cannabis
– Arrests: 1 drug dealer, in custody
– **Karabük**:
– Seized: 2,784 narcotic pills
– Arrests: 3 drug dealers, all in custody
– **Isparta**:
– Seized: 3 kg of cannabis, 1,060 narcotic pills, 1,772 root cannabis
– Arrests: 5 drug dealers, 3 in custody, 1 under judicial control
– **Mardin**:
– Seized: 5 kg of cannabis
– Arrests: 2 drug dealers
– **Iğdır**:
– Seized: 24 kg of cannabis
– Arrests: 2 drug dealers, 1 in custody
– **Erzurum**:
– Seized: 344,650 root cannabis plants
– Arrests: 1 drug dealer
– **Batman**:
– Seized: 7 kg of methamphetamine, 3 kg skunk
– Arrests: 2 drug dealers, both in custody
– **Tekirdağ**:
– Seized: 1.5 kg of synthetic cannabinoids (Bonzai)
– Arrests: 3 drug dealers, all in custody
Minister Yerlikaya assures the public that operations against drug trafficking will continue to intensify across the country. “We are determined to rid our streets of these harmful substances,” he stated.