Turkey: 24 arrested in anti-drug operations

By Seyhan Kirici, Necat Hazar, Emrah Gokmen, Onur Orhan, Tarkan Demir and Ilhami Erkilic

ANKARA, Turkey (AA) - A total of 24 suspects were arrested in nationwide anti-drug operations on Thursday, according to police sources.

In eastern Erzurum province, drug enforcement teams seized 55 pills and arrested three suspects for alleged drug trafficking, said a source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media.

In central Eskisehir province, a suspect was arrested for drug trafficking and 1.630 kilograms (3 pounds) of bonzai and 49 pills were seized.

Three suspects were held and 1.5 kilograms (3 pounds) of hashish were confiscated in northwestern Akyazi district of Sakarya province.

In eastern Malatya province, another three suspects were apprehended and 2,000 pills seized in an anti-drug operation.

Separately, 13 suspects were arrested and 3.5 kilograms (8 pounds) of powdered hashish, 1,229 Ecstasy pills, 23.5 grams of cocaine, 87 grams of hashish, 114 pills were confiscated in anti-drug operations in northwestern Balikesir province.

In eastern Van province's Ipekyolu district, anti-drug teams arrested a suspect and seized 2.7 kilograms (6 pounds) of methamphetamine.