Turkey: 42 held in anti-drug operations

By Ridvan Korkulutas and Orhan Pehlul

GAZIANTEP / ADIYAMAN, Turkey (AA) - Some 42 suspects were held in anti-drug operations in southeastern Turkey, security sources said on Monday.

Turkish police conducted separate operations in Gaziantep and Adiyaman provinces, as part of the country's anti-drug efforts, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

In Gaziantep, security forces detained some 39 suspects and seized nearly 300 grams of illicit drugs, three unregistered firearms, 41 bullets, two rifles and 23 blank guns.

Meanwhile in Adiyaman, police seized an unspecified amount of illegal drugs from a car, and rounded up three suspects.

Last week, during a similar raid in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir, security forces seized 358 kilograms of marijuana.

Turkish authorities confiscated over 40 tons of marijuana and 40 million cannabis roots in 2019.