Turkey cuts into drugs trade, production in southeast

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey

Over 15 million cannabis sativa roots and more than nine tons of marijuana have been seized since the beginning 2019 in Diyarbakir, southeastern Turkey, the provincial governor’s office said Monday.

A total of 381 operations were conducted between Jan. 1 and Aug. 2 in the province with the support of gendarmerie forces, the office said in a statement.

The operations led to the seizure of some 15.4 million cannabis sativa roots, 9.1 tons of marijuana and 24.8 kilogram (54.6 pounds) of marijuana seeds.

"With the seizure of the cannabis sativa, production of 250 tons of marijuana have been prevented," the governor’s office noted.

"The judicial process has been initiated for 200 suspects, while 31 others have been remanded in custody," it added.

*Writing by Sena Guler