Turkish police detain 148 in anti-narcotics operations

Turkish police have detained 148 suspected drug traffickers in anti-narcotics operations across 21 provinces, the country's Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Monday, reported Xinhua.

The simultaneous raids were carried out in provinces including Istanbul, Bursa, Sivas, Bolu, Kahramanmaras, Osmaniye, Igdir, Usak, Mugla, etc., Yerlikaya said on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Among the seized were 300 kg of methamphetamine, 126 kg of skunk, 10,500 pills, 900 kg of marijuana and methamphetamine, and a substantial amount of other drugs, he added.

The minister vowed to continue relentless efforts to counter drug-related crimes in the country.

Located at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, Türkiye has been grappling with international drug smuggling for many years. Turkish security forces frequently launch operations against drug dealers as part of an ongoing nationwide crackdown on drug use and trafficking.