Security forces seize 500 kg of marijuana in two Turkish cities

ANTALYA / DİYARBAKIR

Security forces have seized at least 500 kilograms of marijuana in drug operations on Aug. 6.

Gendarmerie officials told state-run Anadolu Agency that they seized 235 kg of powdered marijuana in a drug operation in the country’s Mediterranean province of Antalya.

They added that 22,400 marijuana roots had been seized as well.

Security forces are seeking to apprehend three suspects.

In a separate operation held in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır, gendarmes seized 284 kg of marijuana powder and 2,000 marijuana roots.

One suspect was detained in the operation.

The Interior Ministry announced on Aug. 5 that security forces have seized around 45 tons of marijuana and 10 tons of heroin so far this year.

Some 251 kilograms of cocaine, 148 kg of opium, 521 kg of the synthetic drug bonzai, 289 kg of methamphetamines, and more than 5.5 million cannabis plants have also been seized.

Some 117,267 people were detained in the same period for alleged drug trafficking and 13,773 of them were remanded in custody.