UPDATE - Turkey: Over 9 tons of bootleg alcohol seized

UPDATES WITH MORE SEIZURE; REVISES SPOT, BYLINE, LEDE

By Cihan Demirci and Durmus Genc

EDIRNE / MUGLA, Turkey (AA) - The Turkish security forces have confiscated more than nine tons of bootleg alcohol in the northwestern Edirne and southwestern Mugla provinces, security sources said on Thursday.

As part of the operations targeting illegal alcohol production that have taken place over the past 10 days in Edirne, police units on prior information raided some houses and shops in different localities of the province and seized 9.171 tons of bootleg alcohol, 377 liters of ethyl alcohol, and hundreds of bottles of liquid used for the production of bootleg alcohol.

A total of 38 suspects were held during the operations.

Separately, security teams seized 60 liters of illegal alcohol in the Koycegiz district of Mugla as part of operations conducted against illegal alcohol production ahead of New Year.

Acting upon a tip-off, police teams followed a suspect selling illegal alcohol and arrested him, said security sources speaking on the condition of anonymity due to media restrictions.

* Writing by Ali Murat Alhas and Merve Aydogan in Ankara