Over 3.6 tons of marijuana seized in SE Turkey

By Jeyhun Aliyev and Abdullah Celik

ANKARA/BINGOL, Turkey (AA) - Turkish security forces seized over 3.6 tons of marijuana as part of anti-narcotics and anti-terrorism operations in southeastern and eastern Turkey, local officials said Thursday.

Provincial gendarmerie forces uncovered 2.3 tons of the drug during successful operations in mountainous and rural areas of Diyarbakir province launched Monday, the governorship said in a written statement.

The seized drugs were concealed under dry grass and tents, as well as bushes and rocky areas.

Apart from the drugs, security forces also found and destroyed three winter shelters, three surveillance posts and one underground depot used by terrorists.

Following a forensic search, gendarmerie forces also found and neutralized a number of ingredients for handmade explosive devices, and revealed other materials and documents of the terrorist organization.

The statement also stressed that resolute operations to ensure security and tranquility in the region would continue.

Although the statement did not mention any specific terrorist group, Turkish forces have been conducting operations against the PKK terrorist organization in the region for a long time.

Separately, gendarmerie in Diyarbakir and the eastern Bingol province seized 1.3 tons of marijuana in a joint operation in Lice district of Diyarbakir, according to local authorities.

The security forces found powdered marijuana in three locations within 31 sacks and eight plastic drums buried underground in an operation helped by sniffer dogs in rural Diyarbakir, the statement said.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has waged a terror campaign against Turkey for more than 30 years, resulting in the deaths of nearly 40,000 people. The YPG is the terrorist PKK’s Syrian branch.