PKK terror group trades drugs for arms: report

By Cankut Tasdan

ANKARA (AA) - Drug trafficking is the main source of funds for the PKK terrorist organization, said an official report by Turkey.

A Turkish police report released on Monday reveals the PKK terrorist organization is active in all the phases of drug trafficking including the production, delivery, distribution, and sales.

PKK terrorist organization earns $1.5 billion from drug trafficking annually, said the 2018 Turkish National Drug Report that contains the data of previous year.

The terror group reportedly produces heroin in laboratories established in its camps in northern Iraq and sells it to Europe.

In its production process, the PKK terrorist organization forces civilians to produce cannabis roots in eastern and southeastern provinces of Turkey and uses that money to fund terror activities.

The report also reveals that the terrorist group also makes money from hashish production in the rural areas of the southeastern Diyarbakir province, which has been the scene of ongoing anti-terror operations against the PKK.

Quoting Justice Ministry statistics, the report states as of 2017, out of 232,182 prisoners and convicts in Turkey's 386 jails, 50,278 were in for drug-related crimes.

The number of suspects arrested in connection with drug offenses rose to 170,175, showing a 48.9 percent increase over the previous year.

According to the report, 86 suspects were detained in six operations in 2017 against PKK's narcotic activities, and 150 kilograms of cannabis roots, 50 kilograms of heroin and 100 grams of cocaine were seized in these operations.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the death of some 40,000 people, including women and children.