site.btaTurkish Law Enforcers Seize Nearly 7 Mln Drug Pills in Istanbul and Izmir

In two separate operations carried out by anti-narcotics and intelligence units in Istanbul and Izmir, a total of 6.958 million drug pills were seized, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said, quoted by the Turkish state television TRT Haber.

According to him, the operation in Istanbul took place in the Esenler district, where the central bus station is located - a region connected to the international European highway E80, which runs from the Middle East to Western Europe.

The operation in the Esenler area was carried out after surveillance. At various addresses in Esenler, the teams uncovered 3.912 million drug pills. At the same time, 145.5 kg of raw material for synthetic drug pills were also seized.

One person has been detained. An investigation is underway.

In another operation carried out by anti-narcotics and intelligence teams of the Izmir Security Directorate, 3.46 million drug pills were seized. The operation took place in the resort town of Buca on the Aegean coast.

During the operation, seven people were detained on suspicion of organizing and participating in international drug trafficking. They were handed over to the judicial authorities, who ordered their detention in prison.

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya commended the teams involved in the operations.

“Our entire fight is to protect all our citizens, especially the youth, from drugs and drug trafficking, which are crimes against humanity,” he said.