Türkiye seizes 1,564 firearms in nationwide crackdown on illegal weapons

Turkish authorities seized 1,564 firearms in operation “Mercek-21” conducted across 75 provinces over five days, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced Saturday.

In a statement on his social media account, Yerlikaya emphasized their ongoing efforts to apprehend and bring to justice those who procure unlicensed firearms.

7️⃣5️⃣ ilde son 5️⃣ günde Silah Kaçakçılarına ve Ruhsatsız Silah Taşıyan Şahıslara yönelik “MERCEK-21” operasyonları düzenlendi❗️

Operasyonlar sonucu:
📌1️⃣.0️⃣3️⃣3️⃣ Ruhsatsız Tabanca,
📌1️⃣2️⃣4️⃣ Kurusıkıdan Çevrilmiş Tabanca,
📌9️⃣2️⃣ Uzun Namlulu Tüfek,
📌3️⃣1️⃣5️⃣ Ruhsatsız Av Tüfeği… pic.twitter.com/pHlQzsmj8X

— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) July 13, 2024

Yerlikaya detailed that the “Mercek-21” operations targeted gun traffickers and individuals carrying unlicensed weapons in 75 provinces. “As a result of the operations, 1,033 unlicensed pistols, 124 blank-firing pistols converted to fire live ammunition, 92 long-barreled rifles, and 315 unlicensed shotguns were seized, and legal action was taken against 1,819 suspects,” he stated.

Minister Yerlikaya also shared data from five key provinces involved in the operations.

In Istanbul, authorities seized 190 pistols and 11 shotguns and detained 245 suspects.

In Adana, 73 pistols and five shotguns were confiscated; in Izmir, 63 pistols and 19 shotguns; in Mersin, 44 pistols and 4 four shotguns; and in Gaziantep, 43 pistols and nine shotguns were seized.

Additionally, 102 suspects were detained in Izmir, 91 in Adana, 69 in Mersin and 49 in Gaziantep.