Turkey sets record in drug seizures, arrests in 2020

By Orhan Onur Gemici and Sertac Bulur

ANKARA (AA) - Anti-drug operations in Turkey seized a record amount of narcotics last year and arrested the most drug-trafficking suspects in the country's history, security sources said on Tuesday.

According to data compiled by Anadolu Agency, security forces conducted 159,259 counter-narcotic operations across the country in 2020.

During these raids, they seized 4,168 kilograms (over 9,189 pounds) of methamphetamine, 1,954 kg (4,308 pounds) of cocaine, 1,484 kg (3,272 pounds) of synthetic cannabinoids, over 11 million of ecstasy pills and over 4 million other types of narcotic pills.

Of the 231,578 suspects held in the operations, 24,781 were remanded in custody.

* Writing by Ahmet Gencturk