UPDATE - Turkey: 39 nabbed amid bootleg alcohol operations

UPDATED WITH NUMBER OF ARRESTS, SEPARATE OPERATIONS, CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

By Muhammed Nuri Aydogan, Sertac Bulur and Kenan Irtak

ANKARA (AA) - At least 39 suspects, including alleged ringleaders of criminal groups involved in selling bootleg liquor, were rounded up in simultaneous operations in various parts of Turkey, security sources said on Friday.

Turkish police raided 31 locations in the capital Ankara and the southeastern Diyarbakir province, western Bursa, and central Kayseri and arrested at least 30 of the suspects, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Earlier, Turkish authorities on Friday issued arrest warrants for 32 suspects over producing bootleg alcohol.

In response to a tip of rising sales ahead of the New Year, anti-smuggling teams in Ankara launched an operation, said the sources.

The operations targeted criminal groups accused of producing and marketing methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, and counterfeit alcohol.

In separate operations, at least seven suspects were arrested in the Aegean Izmir province and two in the district of Luleburgaz in the northwestern Kirklareli province on the same charges, the sources said.

Also, 20,550 liters of ethyl alcohol, 252 bottles of fake alcoholic beverages, 776 products used in the making of bootleg alcohol, distillation tools and three unlicensed firearms were seized.

In the operation in Luleburgaz, 550 liters of bootleg alcohol were also seized. At least two suspects were arrested in the operation.

In another two operations in Izmir, police teams seized 27,350 liters of ethyl alcohol in raids on the warehouses of seven suspects, arresting them.

Operations are underway to arrest the remaining suspects.

Also, in another operation in Istanbul, a total of 1,635 liters of fake drinks in 1,938 bottles were seized.

* Writing by Havva Kara Aydin