Turkish forces seize over 3.5 tons of meth in biggest drug bust

By Gozde Bayar

ANKARA (AA) – Over 3.5 tons of methamphetamine was seized in Istanbul, the biggest one-time drug bust in Türkiye, the country's interior minister said on Friday.

After six months of investigation, police seized the recreational drug, also known as ice, in an operation carried out between Nov. 16-23, Suleyman Soylu said on Twitter.

Soylu added that 12 people were arrested, and judicial proceedings are underway against 10 people.

Turkish authorities have been confiscating narcotics shipments owned or operated by the terrorist PKK since the 1980s, with the country seizing over 40 tons of marijuana in 2019 alone.

Türkiye’s ongoing crackdown on drugs has helped it fight narco-terrorism or profits from the illegal drug trade funding terrorist groups such as the PKK.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.