Security forces seize 320 kg of hashish in Turkey’s Mardin

MARDİN – Anadolu Agency

Security forces on June 6 seized 320 kilograms of hashish hidden in 10 sacks in a vehicle that was stopped in the southeastern province of Mardin, the directorate of security has stated.        

The Mardin Provincial Directorate of Security said anti-narcotics units were conducting a control on the Kızıltepe-Derik highway when they stopped the vehicle in question. 

The driver of the vehicle was also detained in the operation, the statement said.        

Meanwhile, security forces also recovered over 363,000 packages of smuggled cigarettes, with a market value of 2.5 million Turkish Liras (about $709,000), in six different provinces on the same day.        

The Bingöl Provincial Gendarmerie Command conducted anti-smuggling operations in 63 different locations in six southeastern and eastern provinces, according to a statement issued by the Bingöl’s Governor Office.      

The security forces took action against 57 suspects in operations, while imposing an administrative fine of approximately 5 million liras ($1.4 million) to the suspects.

Of the suspects, 10 were transferred to the Solhan Chief Prosecutor’s Office and following their testimonies two were released on judicial control decision, while eight were arrested by a court decision. 

The Bingöl-based operations were also simultaneously conducted in Malatya, Elazığ, Muş, Bitlis, and Van, the Bingöl’s Governor Office stated, indicating that the successful result was due to “a six-month technical and physical pursuit” of security forces. 

“In our province, works against cigarette smuggling, one of the important financial sources of terrorism, continues uninterrupted and with determination,” the Govenor’s Office also said.