250 million Turkish Liras worth of cannabis destroyed in drugs operation

DIYARBAKIR – Anadolu Agency

The operations took two days as security forces raided locations where the cannabis plant was being produced and sold as drug operations continue to hit southeastern locations in an attempt to cut down one of the most abundant sources of revenue for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party. AA photo

A massive amount of cannabis plants have been destroyed in a recent narcotics operation in southeastern Diyarbakır’s Lice district, costing the industry over 250 million Turkish Liras.

The operations took two days as security forces raided locations where the cannabis plant was being produced and sold as drug operations continue to hit southeastern locations in an attempt to cut down one of the most abundant sources of revenue for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

During the operation, 28 force squads and 500 gendarmerie personnel were employed, aided by Skorksy helicopters, 15 cobra vehicles and 10 armored vehicles.

One person was detained as result of the operations 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.