ISTANBUL (AP) — In a significant law enforcement operation, Turkish police detained 525 suspected drug dealers during pre-dawn raids conducted across the capital, Ankara, on Thursday. The Interior Minister of Turkey, Ali Yerlikaya, declared this operation as the "biggest narcotics operation" in the history of the country.
The extensive operation saw the involvement of thousands of police officers, along with support from sniffer dogs, drones, and helicopters, and it targeted over 625 locations. Minister Yerlikaya indicated that the coordinated raids were the culmination of six months of technical and physical surveillance on the suspects.
Many of the individuals arrested are believed to be engaged in the sale of narcotics, utilizing internet-based communication platforms to connect with customers in neighborhoods and on the streets. Yerlikaya emphasized the determination of law enforcement officials, stating, "We have shown those poison peddlers once again very clearly: the streets you have entered is a dead end," in a message shared on his X account.
The Turkish Interior Ministry announced that this crackdown on drug trafficking would persist, with expectations for additional detentions in the upcoming days. This operation in Turkey coincides with a broader, large-scale initiative aimed at combating international drug trafficking and money laundering, which was executed across Europe just days prior. On Tuesday, a coordinated operation led by Europol, alongside police agencies from the Netherlands, Turkey, Germany, Spain, and Belgium, resulted in the arrest of over 230 individuals and the seizure of assets valued at $400 million.
This unified effort underlines the increasing focus on transnational crime and the collaboration among various countries to tackle drug-related offenses effectively. As the fight against narcotics continues, both in Turkey and throughout Europe, the implications of these operations could have far-reaching effects on drug trade networks and law enforcement strategies moving forward.
