Turkey: Over 10 arrested in anti-narcotics operations

By Ferdi Uzun, Ekrem Senvar and Omer Vural

ISTANBUL (AA) - More than 10 suspects have been arrested in anti-narcotics operations in Turkey, police officials said Monday.

Security forces nabbed a total of 12 people in the western province of Aydin, northwestern province of Tekirdag and southeastern Diyarbakir province, said the police officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

In Aydin province, anti-narcotics police units stopped a car en route to Aydin from the eastern province of Batman and arrested three suspects.

The court remanded two of them in custody on charges of drug trafficking, while the remaining one was later released.

Police also seized 2 kilograms (4 pounds) of marijuana during the operation.

In Tekirdag province, police units arrested nine suspects from Corlu and Cerkezkoy districts and seized a number of synthetic drug pills.

In a separate operation in Diyarbakir province, a suspect, who was apprehended earlier in an operation in a house in city center, was remanded in custody over drug trafficking.

Security forces also confiscated over 4 kilograms (9 pounds) of marijuana.