Türkiye seizes 1,564 firearms in nationwide crackdown on illegal weapons

In a “Mercek-21” operation, Turkish authorities have launched a concerted effort across 75 provinces to curb arms smuggling and the possession of unlicensed firearms.

The initiative, spearheaded by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, resulted in the confiscation of 1,564 weapons over a five-day period, Caliber.Az reports.

In a statement on his social media account, Yerlikaya emphasized their ongoing efforts to apprehend and bring to justice those who procure unlicensed firearms.

Yerlikaya detailed that the “Mercek-21” operations targeted gun traffickers and individuals carrying unlicensed weapons in 75 provinces. “As a result of the operations, 1,033 unlicensed pistols, 124 blank-firing pistols converted to fire live ammunition, 92 long-barreled rifles, and 315 unlicensed shotguns were seized, and legal action was taken against 1,819 suspects,” he stated.