Türkiye arrests over 200 in massive drug trafficking crackdown Assets Worth over $341 million seized / Video

Turkish authorities have carried out a major operation against an international organised drug trafficking network, arresting 234 individuals and seizing assets valued at approximately 13 billion liras (over $341 million).

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated on X that the operation – codenamed Orkinos-Bulut – targeted key figures behind the smuggling of 21.25 tonnes of narcotics and over 3.3 million units of contraband goods, Caliber.Az reports.

“Operasyonumuzun adı: ORKİNOS-BULUT”
Bugün sabah saatlerinde, ulusal ve uluslararası boyutta uyuşturucu madde ticareti yapan ve bu suçtan elde ettikleri gelirleri aklamaya çalışan organize suç örgütlerinin üst düzey üyelerine yönelik çok büyük bir operasyon gerçekleştirdik.… pic.twitter.com/p9oRXh5rb8

— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) April 15, 2025

The arrests include 234 high-ranking members of the criminal organisation, with 9 detained abroad and 225 apprehended within Türkiye. Of those arrested, 10 were on Interpol’s red notice list, indicating their international wanted status.

The Turkish Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) reported that authorities confiscated:

• 681 properties

• 127 vehicles

• Shares in 113 companies

• Bank accounts linked to the suspects

Yerlikaya stated that the investigation, conducted in coordination with Europol, was carried out over eight months and included simultaneous operations in five countries, underscoring the transnational nature of the network.

By Aghakazim Guliyev