Türkiye arrests 122 in nationwide drug trafficking crackdown

A large-scale anti-narcotics operation across Türkiye has led to the arrest of 122 suspects following coordinated raids in multiple provinces, according to the country’s Interior Ministry.

The Ministry of the Interior of Türkiye announced on X that the gendarmerie conducted simultaneous operations in 30 provinces, including Istanbul, Antalya, Izmir, Bursa, and Diyarbakır. Around 4,500 law enforcement personnel took part in the coordinated raids, Caliber.Az reports.

30 ilde Uyuşturucu Madde Satıcılarına yönelik Jandarmamız tarafından düzenlenen operasyonlarda; 518 kg Uyuşturucu Madde ile 133 bin 66 adet Uyuşturucu Hap ele geçirildi.

392 şüpheli yakalandı. Şüphelilerden 122'si tutuklandı. Diğerlerinin işlemleri devam ediyor.

Jandarma… pic.twitter.com/9MgP0EaBwX

— T.C. İçişleri Bakanlığı (@TC_icisleri) May 6, 2026

In total, 392 individuals were detained during the operation. Authorities said 518 kilograms of drugs and more than 133,000 narcotic pills were seized during searches carried out at various locations.

Following court proceedings, 122 suspects were formally taken into custody, while investigations into the remaining detainees are ongoing.

The ministry said street-level drug dealers increasingly relied on social media platforms and messaging applications to distribute narcotics, highlighting the growing role of digital tools in illicit drug networks.

By Sabina Mammadli