Turkey: Over 300 kg of marijuana, drugs seized

By Hasan Namli, Fahrettin Gok, Bayram Sarayoglu

DIYARBAKIR/ERZURUM/ARTVIN, Turkey (AA) - Turkish police seized 308 kilograms (approx. 679 pounds) of marijuana in an anti-narcotics operation in Turkey’s southeastern Diyarbakir province, the provincial governorate said on Tuesday.

Other illegal items including pistols were also seized in the operation carried out in the countryside of the Lice district.

The raid was part of the Operation Yildirim-7, which also focuses on narco-terrorism. It was launched on Aug. 26, and aims to completely eliminate the PKK terror group and neutralize all terrorists hiding in the region.

Two suspected drug traffickers were also held.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK – listed as a terrorist group by Turkey, the US, and the EU – has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

Separately, 978 grams (2.1pounds) of drugs, two pistols and 109 cartridges were seized in simultaneous operations in five provinces, according to local police.

At least 13 suspects were detained during the raids in Erzurum, Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir and Kocaeli provinces.

Meanwhile, Turkish gendarmerie forces also seized more than 47 grams of powder hashish (0.10 pounds), 628 cannabis roots and other illegal items including four pistols in Borcka district of northeastern Artvin province.

Security teams also rounded up five suspected drug traffickers during the action.

*Writing by Merve Aydogan in Ankara