Over 100 kilograms of drugs seized in Turkey

By Sercan Kucuksahin and Arif Yakici

ANKARA (AA) - Police seized over 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of different types of drugs and around 250,000 packs of contraband cigarettes during three separate anti-smuggling operations in Istanbul, Kayseri and Sivas provinces on Monday, according to police officials.

Police’s Public Order Unit seized about 112 kilograms (247 pounds) of opium gum, cocaine, heroin and marijuana in an operation in Istanbul’s Sirinevler district.

Around 6.5 kilograms (14.3 pounds) of marijuana, 93.18 kilograms (205.4 pounds) of heroin, 887 grams (31 ounces) of cocaine, as well as 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of methamphetamine were seized from an apartment belonging to a person of Iranian descent who was later arrested.

The drugs were brought from outside of Turkey, some of which were destined for European countries, according to a police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

In the second incident, the Department of Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Branch seized 4,085 packs of contraband cigarettes from two buses and a truck with a Bulgarian number plate at a checkpoint in Susehri -- a district of central Sivas province.

Four people were arrested, including a Bulgarian national on charges of smuggling.

In the third incident in central Kayseri province, a truck with 196,000 packs of contraband cigarettes was seized at a checkpoint on the Kayseri-Malatya road early Monday; the driver was detained, according to another police official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

On Friday, the National Police Department’s Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Branch teams seized 42,000 packs of contraband cigarettes from a suspicious truck at a checkpoint on the Izmir-Ankara highway in Usak province; a driver and three passengers were also arrested.