Dozens detained for drug trafficking in multiple provinces

ISTANBUL - Doğan News Agency

DHA photo

More than two dozen suspects have been detained for alleged drug trafficking after hundreds of narcotics unit police officers raided multiple locations in Istanbul and the southern province of Adana.

At least one person was detained after officers from the Istanbul Police Department Narcotics Unit along with 400 police officers from the department’s other units raided 90 different locations in five Istanbul districts, Beyoğlu, Şişli, Kağıthane, Eyüp and Gaziosmanpaşa, in the early hours on Aug. 25.

The police operation in Istanbul was supported by officers from the Istanbul Police Department’s counterterrorism, financial crimes, smuggling and cybercrimes units as well as police helicopters. 

The suspects detained were taken to the Istanbul Police Department located on Vatan Street in Istanbul’s Fatih district after a health check-up.

In a separate pre-dawn police operation in Adana, 25 suspects were detained for alleged drug trafficking on Aug. 25 after Adana Police Department Narcotics Unit officers raided 34 separate homes in central Adana within the operation supported by police helicopters.

The operation in Adana was supported by anti-riot officers from the Adana Police Department’s counterterrorism unit, with anti-riot police officers watching street entry and exits closely and breaking through the metal doors of the suspects’ homes.

A large amount of hashish was discovered with the help of specially trained police dogs while several pistols and pump-action rifles were also seized in the operation.

The suspects detained were taken to the Adana Police Department for interrogation.

Police operations against drug dealers and traffickers have become routine across Turkey, with many other operations being conducted in multiple provinces.

Two suspects were detained and 656 grams of heroin were seized after Antalya Police Department officers searched a car after stopping it in the Mediterranean province of Antalya around 10 p.m. on Aug. 23.

The detained suspects, Vedat B., the driver of the car, and Ferhat B., 19, were taken to court after their interrogation.