Turkey: 16 suspects arrested in anti-drug operations

By Savas Guler

KONYA, Turkey (AA) - At least 16 suspects were arrested during anti-narcotics operations across Turkey, security sources said on Wednesday.

In Turkey’s central Anatolian province of Konya, police arrested five suspects and recovered 4.5 kilograms (9.9 pounds) of heroin from their car, said a police source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media.

In the border province of Edirne in northwestern Turkey, police seized over 228 kilograms (502 pounds) of marijuana during an anti-drug operation, said the Regional Directorate of Customs and Trade of Thrace in a statement.

According to the statement, the marijuana kept hidden in 10 suitcases were seized after a truck driven by a Turkish national was stopped from attempting to cross into Turkey from Greece via Ipsala Border Gate.

The driver was arrested and later remanded in custody by a local court.

In the southwestern province of Denizli, two suspects were arrested during an anti-drug operation.

In southeastern province of Adiyaman, the police arrested two suspects and seized 20 grams of bonsai.

Separately, six suspects were arrested in three different anti-drug operations launched in the eastern province of Malatya.

Three of the suspects have been remanded in custody by a court.

*Sebahatdin Zeyrek in Denizli, Cagri Oner in Adiyaman, Volkan Kasik in Malatya contributed to this story