Turkey: Over 45 suspects held in anti-drug operations

By Selman Tur

BATMAN, Turkey

At least 49 suspects were arrested during anti-drug operations across Turkey on Tuesday, according to security sources.

In southeastern Batman province, one suspect was arrested, while 66 kilograms (145 pounds) of marijuana, as well as 55 smuggled cell phones were seized, according to a security source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media.

Separately, another suspect was arrested in Edirne province’s Kesan district and recovered 47 grams of bonsai, and a synthetic drug.

In central Aksaray province, one suspect was arrested after security forces found 1,000 illegal drug pills, 200 grams of skunk and three grams of methamphetamine.

In the Mediterranean resort city of Antalya’s Alanya district, 13 others were held in an operation against street sellers, another source said.

Also, in a northwestern Yalova-based operation, 13 suspects were detained in Yalova, Istanbul, Bursa and Gaziantep provinces.

In southern Isparta province, nine more suspects were arrested during controls at the entrance of the city.

11 others were detained in central Kayseri province for selling illegal drugs. Three of them were later released.