15 million cannabis plants destroyed in new wave of narcotics operations

DIYARBAKIR - Anadolu Agency

A total of 33 squads on the ground, supported by helicopters, including a Skorsky, 18 cobra vehicles and 13 armored vehicles, began raids on illegal production areas of cannabis plants in the Lice district in the early hours of July 23. AA Photo

Over 15 million cannabis plants have been destroyed in the latest wave of “narco-terror” operations in Turkey’s southeastern province of Diyarbakır, conducted by over 600 security personnel.

A total of 33 squads on the ground, supported by helicopters, including a Skorsky, 18 cobra vehicles and 13 armored vehicles, began raids on illegal production areas of cannabis plants in the Lice district in the early hours of the day. By afternoon, at least 1,000 acres of cannabis fields had been destroyed.

A structural watering system used by the cannabis producers was also uncovered during the operation.

The latest operation was a joint effort of both gendarmerie and police authorities in the district, which has been home ground to multiple large scale narcotic operations over the past few weeks, with one of the previous ones landing a 250 million Turkish Liras worth blow to the illegal industry.

The most recent operation has witnessed the deployment of 28 force squads and 500 gendarmerie personnel, aided by Skorksy helicopters, 15 cobra vehicles and 10 armored vehicles. One person was detained as result, and six more were subjected to judicial proceedings over connections to the production of the illegal plant.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had previously linked unrest in the area to successful drugs busts by the government, stating that the clashes, which occurred when a group of villagers came up against security officials over the construction of a gendarmerie facility, were an expression of the PKK’s discontent with the financial blow.