Massive Anti-Drug Operations in 45 Provinces: Significant Seizures and Arrests by Police and Gendarmerie
The Interior Minister, Mr. Ali Yerlikaya, announced the results of extensive operations targeting drug manufacturers and street dealers, carried out by Police and Gendarmerie in 45 provinces. Minister Yerlikaya provided detailed information about the drugs seized and the criminals apprehended during the operations, codenamed “NARKOÇELİK-25.”
Operation Results:
538 Kg of Drugs Seized
2,030,500 Cannabis and Skunk Plants
188,000 Drug Pills
Minister Ali Yerlikaya’s Statement:
“We are determined to cleanse our country of drug dealers and street vendors. Our operations against drug traffickers will continue to intensify across the nation.”
The operations, coordinated by the General Directorate of Security Narcotics Crimes Department and the Gendarmerie General Command KOM Department, were conducted by provincial police departments and provincial gendarmerie commands. A total of 765 teams and 1,910 personnel participated, along with 9 aircraft and 26 narcotic detector dogs.
The operations took place in the following provinces:
Istanbul, Ankara, Gaziantep, Adana, Sivas, Izmir, Denizli, Konya, Şanlıurfa, Antalya, Malatya, Mersin, Bursa, Samsun, Afyonkarahisar, Balıkesir, Sakarya, Tekirdağ, Kayseri, Burdur, Manisa, Batman, Çorum, Isparta, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Düzce, Giresun, Kütahya, Osmaniye, Siirt, Yozgat, Eskişehir, Mardin, Muğla, Adıyaman, Bitlis, Bolu, Kırıkkale, Kilis, Hakkâri, Rize, Yalova, Ağrı, and Diyarbakır.
Drugs Seized and Dealers Arrested in Some Provinces:
Ağrı: 240 kg of heroin, 1 drug trafficker.
Diyarbakır: 1,720,500 cannabis plants, 310,000 skunk plants, 64 kg of marijuana.
Malatya: 57.5 kg of skunk, 4 street dealers.
Istanbul: 53.5 kg of methamphetamine, 73 street dealers.
Hakkâri: 28.5 kg of methamphetamine, 1 drug trafficker.
Antalya: 21 kg of marijuana, 21 kg of heroin, 13 kg of methamphetamine, 1 drug trafficker.
Izmir: 19 kg of skunk, 3 drug traffickers.
Konya: 15 kg of skunk, 124,822 drug pills, 7 street dealers.
Eskişehir: 40,558 drug pills, 2 drug traffickers.
Ankara: 22,828 drug pills, 2 drug traffickers.
Minister Ali Yerlikaya emphasized:
“Turkey is a state of law. Our security forces continue their fight against all crimes and criminals with determination. It is unacceptable for anyone to disrupt public order, safety, or human rights.”
Minister Ali Yerlikaya praised the heroic police, gendarmerie, and customs protection teams involved in the operations, wishing them the best and stating that the prayers of the nation are with them.