50 arrests in Türkiye’s anti-drug operations across 12 provinces

In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, Turkish authorities arrested 50 suspects during the nationwide Narkokapan-4 operations across 12 provinces, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced.

The operations, coordinated by the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Offices and the Gendarmerie General Command’s Narcotics Crimes Department, targeted illicit drug networks in Antalya, Diyarbakir, Balikesir, Adana, Manisa, Istanbul, Ankara, Kirklareli, Aydin, Kirikkale, Van, and Bursa.

Authorities seize 658kg of narcotics and over 127,000 pills

Authorities confiscated:

• 658 kilograms of narcotics
• 127,474 illicit pills

A total of 83 suspects were apprehended. Among them, 50 were formally arrested, 16 were placed under judicial control, and the remaining individuals are still undergoing legal procedures.

Minister Yerlikaya emphasized the importance of these operations, stating, “Every operation we conduct and every substance we seize represents a step in our fight to safeguard our youth and secure our future. This mission is a shared responsibility we approach with unity and determination.”

12 arrested in Diyarbakir-based fraud operation

In a large-scale fraud investigation centered in Diyarbakir and spanning nine provinces, Turkish authorities arrested 12 suspects accused of scamming citizens through fake bungalow rental advertisements on social media.

The operation, coordinated by the Cybercrime Division of the Diyarbakir Provincial Police Department, revealed an organized network exploiting online platforms to commit fraud.

Authorities carried out simultaneous raids in Istanbul, Gaziantep, Adana, Mersin, Sirnak, Siirt, Kayseri, and Konya following a five-month investigation under the scope of “qualified fraud” and “laundering of criminal assets”.

Key findings from the operation include:

• 20 suspects detained across nine provinces.
• 12 suspects formally arrested following court proceedings.
• 6 luxury vehicles and motorcycles seized, with an estimated market value of 11 million Turkish lira.
• Freezing of financial accounts involved in fraudulent activities.

Millions in financial transactions uncovered

Investigators uncovered that the suspects’ accounts, spanning banks, payment platforms, and cryptocurrency exchanges, recorded transactions totaling ₺2.1 billion ($59.5 million).

Authorities also revealed that several suspects had been living luxurious lifestyles in Istanbul using fraudulently obtained funds.