UPDATE: Over 53 kg of heroin seized in eastern Turkey

NEW DECK; UPDATED WITH OPERATIONS IN DIYARBAKIR PROVINCE

By Necat Hazar and Hasan Namli

DIYARBAKIR / VAN, Turkey (AA) - Turkish security forces seized around 53.2 kilograms (117.2 pounds) of heroin in the eastern province of Van, local police announced Friday.

Searching a suspicious van in the Kurubas neighborhood in the Edremit district with the help of a sniffer dog, anti-drug police uncovered 104 packages of heroin hidden in the vehicle, said the statement.

One suspect, identified only by initials M.F.D, was remanded in custody.

Separately, in the past two weeks gendarmerie teams in the southeastern Diyarbakir province have seized more than 28.6 million cannabis roots and over three tons of marijuana, said Diyarbakir Governor Munir Karaloglu.

Karaloglu said on Twitter that anti-drug operations were carried out in the province’s Hani, Lice, and Kocakoy districts.

* Writing by Gozde Bayar