Police seize over 1 ton of marijuana in SE Turkey

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey

Turkish police on Friday seized over one ton of marijuana in an anti-terror operation in the country’s southeast, according to an official statement.

The police seized 1,036 kilograms (2,283 pounds) of marijuana, as part of Turkey’s Operation Kiran.

Police also destroyed shelters that were used by PKK terror group.

On Aug. 17, Turkey launched Operation Kiran in the country's southeast against YPG/PKK terrorists in Van, Hakkari and Sirnak provinces, followed by the launch of Operation Kiran-2 on Aug. 27 in Mardin, Sirnak and Batman provinces. Four more iterations of the operation followed, including Operation Kiran-6.

The PKK has reportedly financed its terrorist activities through the illegal drug trade since as early as the 1980s, with Interpol estimating up to 80% of the European illicit drug markets being supplied by PKK-controlled trafficking networks.

Turkish authorities have been confiscating narcotics shipments owned or operated by the PKK since the 1980s.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is the PKK's Syrian offshoot.

*Writing by Burak Bir