Online drug trafficking crackdown in Türkiye leads to 142 arrests
Türkiye's war against drugs intensifies with record-breaking cocaine seizures and targeted raids, uncovering complex networks and connections, Türkiye, November 2024. (AA Photo)
Türkiye’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that 142 suspects were detained following the nationwide “Narkocelik-47” operation, targeting individuals selling drugs through social media, websites, and messaging apps.
A total of 150 suspects were apprehended, with judicial control measures imposed on the remaining eight.
- 150 suspected online drug dealers were caught
- 142 of them were arrested
- Judicial control decisions were made for 8 of them
Coordinated effort involving over 700 personnel
The operation, involving 783 personnel, aimed at dismantling networks of online drug dealers operating across various digital platforms. Yerlikaya highlighted the coordinated use of advanced technology by cyber patrols to track suspicious activity and identify key figures in the illegal trade.
Our operations against online drug dealers who engage in drug trafficking through internet-based communication and digital platforms in the virtual environment will continue rapidly.
Our cyber patrols monitor online platforms, encrypted messaging networks and the dark web to track drug trafficking-related activity. They monitor social media platforms for keywords, symbols and suspicious accounts, and identify drug dealers one by one.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya
AI-powered surveillance to combat dark web drug sales
Yerlikaya noted the involvement of AI-supported algorithms in detecting keywords, symbols, and suspicious accounts, particularly on encrypted messaging networks.
He emphasized the government’s commitment to purging drug traffickers from the country, stating: “We are resolute in our mission to rid Türkiye of these poison peddlers.”
Our cyber patrols use AI-powered algorithms to specifically identify vendors operating on this dark web.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya
