UPDATE - Nearly 15 kg of heroin seized in eastern Turkey

UPDATES WITH ANOTHER OPERATION, CHANGES DECK

By Necat Hazar and Orhan Yoldas

VAN/MALATYA, Turkey (AA) – Security forces seized around 15 kilograms (33 pounds) of heroin in eastern Turkey, authorities said on Friday.

The narcotics were found during a raid at a cargo transfer center in Ipekyolu district of Van province, the local police said in a statement.

It said a sniffer dog found 15 packets of heroin hidden in three plastic jerricans containing cheese.

One suspect, identified only by the initials B.A., was arrested in the operation, the statement added.

Separately, gendarmerie teams seized 11,000 cannabis roots in a raid in the eastern Malatya, the province’s governorship said.

One suspect was arrested in the operation, it added.

*Writing by Seda Sevencan