Turkey foils bid to smuggle 18 tons of cyanide compound

ANKARA

Turkey’s security forces have foiled a bid to smuggle 18,400 kilograms (40,565 pounds) of cyanide compound, the country’s Trade Ministry said on Friday.

Acting on a tip-off, a truck carrying chemical substance was searched at the Gurbulak Customs Gate in the eastern Van province when it was heading to Iran, the ministry said in a statement.

A total of 360 barrels labeled sodium cyanide was found in the truck. Experts took safety precautions to avoid threat to the environment and human health.

An investigation regarding the incident is ongoing, the statement added.

On Nov. 29, Turkey's government banned the sales of cyanide compounds to the public.

Under the regulations, sales of a host of substances are now controlled, including hydrogen cyanide, hydrocyanic acid, calcium cyanide, and cadmium cyanide. All packaging will include the phrase “For professional and industrial use only.”

*Writing by Erdogan Cagatay Zontur, Davut Demircan