Turkish Customs seize $1.25M worth of drugs at airports, border checkpoints
Narcotics police officers from the Anti-Narcotic Crimes Directorate with reflective vests, Türkiye, September 2024. (AA Photo)
Turkish Trade Ministry reported a significant drug bust involving three separate operations, resulting in the seizure of narcotics worth an estimated ₺43 million ($1.25 million).
The confiscated substances included 81,000 Captagon pills, 17 kilograms of cocaine and 8 kilograms of cannabis.
Captagon pills found hidden at Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen Airport
The first operation was conducted by customs enforcement teams at Sabiha Gokcen Airport. During routine cargo inspections, narcotics detector dogs alerted officials to suspicious packages.
The packages were subsequently scanned with an X-ray system, revealing concealed items. Upon detailed inspection, authorities uncovered 81,000 Captagon pills hidden within door locks.
In three separate operations carried out by the Ministry of Trade Customs Enforcement teams at Sabiha Gokcen Airport, Hamzabeyli and Kapiköy Customs areas to enter Türkiye, 81 thousand Captagons, 17 kilos of cocaine and 8 kilos of cannabis were seized, worth 43 million Turkish Liras.
Investigations into the incidents are ongoing.
Turkish Ministry of Trade
Cocaine seized at Edirne’s Hamzabeyli border crossing
In a second operation at the Hamzabeyli border crossing in Edirne, customs officials intercepted a suspicious truck entering Türkiye. The empty truck was subjected to an X-ray scan, which indicated irregularities.
A detailed search of the vehicle’s cargo area revealed 15 packages wrapped in plastic containing a total of 17 kilograms of cocaine.
Cannabis confiscated at Kapikoy border gate
The third operation took place at the Kapikoy border gate, where customs enforcement officers, assisted by narcotics detector dogs, inspected a vehicle arriving from Iran.
During the search, officers discovered 8 kilograms of cannabis hidden in the vehicle.
