Over 190 kilograms of heroin seized across Turkey

VAN – Anadolu Agency

More than 190 kilograms of heroin have been seized during anti-drug operations across Turkey, local police department and security sources said on March 27.

In a statement, police in the eastern province of Van said the operation targeted drug traffickers who have been accused of funding the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the Başkale and Edremit districts.

In Başkale, anti-drug teams seized more than 92 kg of heroin from a vehicle on the Van-Hakkari highway.

During the operation, seven suspects were also apprehended on charges of drug trafficking, the statement said.

In Edremit, police confiscated over 8.8 kg of heroin hidden in a pillow in a truck.

Two suspects, including the truck driver, were also detained during the operation, the statement added.

Separately, in an operation based in the Aegean province of İzmir, security forces arrested 22 suspects including a policeman and a prison officer, according to a police source who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to media.

Sniffer dogs assisted during the simultaneous operations against street drug dealers in eight provinces of Istanbul, Antalya, Diyarbakir, Muğla, Kayseri, Gaziantep, and Manisa as well as İzmir.

During the raid, police seized 79 kg of marijuana, 13 kg of synthetic drugs, and 1,180 drug pills, the source added.