Over 100 kg of heroin seized in eastern Turkey

Over 100 kg of heroin seized in eastern Turkey

AĞRI - Anadolu Agency

A total of 109 kilograms (240 pounds) of heroin were seized in Turkey’s eastern Ağrı province on Sept. 17, according to a statement from the provincial governor’s office.

The statement said the heroin was found in a truck coming from Iran, which was stopped by police forces.

Three Iranians, including the truck driver, were detained and later remanded in custody.

In August, security forces seized 800 kilograms of heroin in the western province of Kocaeli, one of the largest anti-drug operations in recent years.

The Interior Ministry said in a statement on Sept. 11 that 62 tons and 83 kilograms of drugs were seized in operations in the first eight months of this year.

A total of 94,853 anti-drug operations have been conducted between January and August, the statement said, adding that this number was 27 percent higher than the same period of last year.

Some 132,710 people were detained in the operations, 14,964 of whom were arrested. When compared to last year’s data, these figures were, respectively, 27 percent and 8 percent higher this year.

The amount of heroin seized in these operations increased by 53 percent compared to the same period of last year, reaching 11 tons and 983 kilograms, the statement said.