Türkiye’s sweeping drug crackdown nets nearly 400 suspects

Turkish authorities have detained 382 people suspected of drug trafficking in Operation Narko Kapan, a large-scale anti-narcotics operation carried out across 14 provinces and centred in Gaziantep, Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said.

The operation followed a six-month technical and operational surveillance campaign conducted by the Gaziantep Provincial Police Department under the coordination of the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Caliber.Az reports per Turkish media.

Investigators identified 548 suspects allegedly involved in selling narcotics through closed groups and messaging platforms, including Telegram and WhatsApp.

The investigation also found that 75 suspects were already serving prison sentences for other crimes. During simultaneous raids at 472 locations, authorities detained 382 individuals. Police are continuing to search for 91 other suspects, four of whom are believed to be abroad and have been placed on an international wanted list.

According to Gaziantep Governor Kemal Çeber, the operation involved 3,100 police officers, 620 police teams, a helicopter, 10 drones, and 11 police dogs.

Investigators say the suspects are also linked to robbery, armed threats, theft, and intentional bodily harm.

By Jeyhun Aghazada