Turkey conducts nationwide anti-narcotics operations

By Ugur Islamoglu, Cankut Tasdan and Isa Toprak

ISTANBUL/ANKARA (AA) – Turkish police carried out wide-scale anti-narcotics operations covering all provinces, security sources said on Tuesday.

An operation based in Istanbul and Ankara was conducted simultaneously in all 81 provinces against drug sellers, said a security source on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Anti-narcotics teams of police in Istanbul simultaneously raided addresses in the districts of Bayrampasa, Gaziosmanpasa, Kadikoy, Besiktas, and Esenler.

During the operation supported by special forces teams, scores of suspects were arrested, said the source.

Separately, an Ankara-based operation was launched in 59 provinces against illegal growing of cannabis, according to the General Directorate of Security.

Some 574 suspects had been found to be growing cannabis to produce marijuana, it said, adding that 630 addresses belonging to the suspects were raided.

A total of 1,213 teams, 3,644 personnel and 113 sniffer dogs took part in the operation, the directorate said.

*Writing by Sena Guler