Largest anti-drug sweep in Turkish history yields hundreds of arrests

Türkiye has carried out the most extensive anti-narcotics operation in the country’s history, delivering a major blow to organized drug trafficking networks, authorities said.

Coordinated large-scale raids were conducted across 14 provinces, with İzmir serving as the operational hub. As a result, 641 suspected drug traffickers were detained Caliber.Az reports.

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that the operation marked the largest anti-drug crackdown ever undertaken by the republic. Law enforcement carried out simultaneous raids at 608 locations, deploying 4,500 police officers, 956 operational units, and eight specially trained sniffer dogs.

Emphasizing the broader significance of the crackdown, Yerlikaya said the fight against narcotics extends beyond domestic concerns. “Combating drugs is not merely an issue of internal security; it is a struggle for global security,” he stated.

By Vafa Guliyeva