Drugs worth billions of liras seized in operations against PKK, Gülenists: Interior minister

ANKARA

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Turkey seized drugs worth 4 billion Turkish Liras in operations targeting the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and drugs worth 75 million liras in operations against the Gülen movement, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said on Nov. 23 in a budget commission meeting in parliament.   
Soylu also stated that the number of PKK militants who surrendered to security forces in 2016 was at its highest in 17 years, at 457 people. 

A total of 21,929 people have been dismissed and 12,985 people have been suspended from their duties within the Interior Ministry as part of an ongoing investigation into the failed July 15 coup attempt, widely believed to have been orchestrated by Gülenists, he added.  

Soylu said a total of 9,786 people within the ministry had been arrested over links to the movement of U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, while 3,569 people have returned to their duties at the ministry after suspension. 

Another 467 personnel from the ministry are currently being sought as fugitives, according to Soylu.

Earlier, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ - announced that legal action had been taken against a total of 92,607 suspects, 39,378 of whom have been arrested so far, as part of the investigation into the failed coup attempt.

Bozdağ also said recruitments in the public sphere were ongoing at many public institutions to fill the positions left after scores were suspended or dismissed.

Soylu said recruitments to fill a gap of 10,000 police officers are still ongoing, while works on the issue within the gendarmerie and coast guard forces are also continuing.