site.btaMassive Anti-Drug Operations in 72 Turkish Provinces, Nearly 2,000 Suspects Detained

Turkish law-enforcers have conducted large-scale anti-drug operations across 72 provinces over the past two weeks, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

According to Minister Yerlikaya, a total of 1,933 individuals suspected of involvement in drug trafficking and distribution were detained during the operations.

The raids were coordinated by teams from the Anti-Narcotics Department of the General Directorate of Security based in Ankara and targeted addresses previously identified through intelligence gathering.

Operations were carried out in major provinces including Istanbul, Ankara, Bursa, Adana, and Gaziantep, among others.

During the searches, authorities seized 927 kilograms of narcotic substances and 1,296,000 drug tablets.

The operation highlights Turkey’s ongoing efforts to combat organized drug crime and secure public safety nationwide.

A total of 3,720 teams with 6,130 personnel participated in the operations, supported by 21 helicopters and airplanes, as well as 62 specially trained drug detection dogs.

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya congratulated the governors, the chief prosecutor’s offices coordinating the operations, the Anti-Narcotics Department of the General Directorate of Security, as well as the heads of the provincial police and police officers who took part in these large-scale actions.

“The fight against drugs is a global disaster; it is not only a matter of security but also a matter of the country’s future,” Yerlikaya emphasized, highlighting the importance of this struggle for national security and prosperity.