1,682 suspects detained in anti-terror operations in one week: Interior Ministry

ANKARA

A total of 1,682 people have been detained in operations conducted against terror organizations across Turkey over the past week, the Interior Ministry stated Dec. 26.

Security forces, including the gendarmerie special forces, commandoes, police special forces and the army’s air and land units, conducted 220 operations targeting the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) across Turkey over the past week, between Dec. 19 and Dec. 26 across the country, detaining 508 suspects for allegedly aiding and abetting the PKK, the ministry stated.

Some 78 of the suspects were later arrested, it added.

According to the ministry, a total of nine PKK militants were also “neutralized” during the operations. Four were killed, four were captured and another was injured.

Turkish authorities often use the word “neutralized” to imply militants who have been killed or incapacitated. 

It also added that three sanctuaries, shelters and caves used by the militants and 18 explosives were destroyed in the operations. Some 60 kilograms of explosive material, 12 hand grenades and 36 weapons were also seized, the ministry said.

According to the ministry, a total of 78 suspects connected to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) were also detained over the past week, 12 of whom were later arrested.

In addition, a total of 1,096 suspects over the Fethullahist Terror Organization/Parallel State Structure (FETÖ/PYD), which has been accused of attempting a coup on July 15, were also detained, 426 of whom were later arrested, the ministry stated.

Meanwhile, the ministry stated that drugs worth 13,666,000 Turkish Liras were seized in operations, including 322 kilograms of heroin, 31,618 opiate drugs, nine kilograms of phenazepam and two kilograms of methamphetamine.

It also said 1,638,765 smuggled cigarettes and 92,284 liters of fuel oil worth 11,852,491 liras in total were seized, with 390 suspects detained accordingly.

Some 1,960 irregular migrants were also captured, the ministry stated, adding that 29 migrant smuggling organizers were detained, 13 of whom were later arrested.

In a previous statement issued last week, the ministry announced that a total of 924 PKK suspects had been detained in 213 operations while another 88 ISIL suspects had also been detained between Dec. 12 and Dec. 19. Five of the ISIL suspects were arrested, the ministry had stated.