4,800 terror, drugs suspects caught in 1 week in Turkey
ANKARA – Anadolu Agency
Nearly 5,000 suspects have been detained in one week across Turkey on terrorism, drug trafficking and smuggling charges, the Interior Ministry said on Nov. 13.
The ministry’s weekly report also stated that security forces “neutralized” 38 militants last week in nationwide operations between Nov. 6 and Nov. 13. Some 16 were killed, 14 were detained, and eight surrendered, it added.
In total, 1,456 operations were carried out against illegal organizations, in which 1,167 suspects were arrested for alleged links to groups such as the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Fetullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) and others.
In addition, 78 shelters and 21 improvised explosives were destroyed during counter-terrorism operations in eastern and southeastern provinces of Bingöl, Bitlis, Erzurum, Hakkari, Van and Muş, according to the Interior Ministry report.
It also stated that security forces seized drugs, smuggled tobacco and fuel during 2,796 anti-narcotics operations in a total of 77 provinces across Turkey, in which 3,682 suspects were also arrested.
As part of cybersecurity operations, legal action was also taken against 173 people.
In the campaign against illegal migration, 6,890 undocumented migrants, including 527 in Turkish waters, were held while 110 suspects accused of aiding them were detained, the statement added.
In a separate incident, early on Nov. 13 a soldier was injured in a mine explosion in rural area of the southeastern province of Bitlis, according to a statement from the Bitlis Governor’s Office.
Meanwhile, Turkish jets destroyed a number of PKK camps, weapons positions, arms dumps and shelters in northern Iraq on Nov. 12, the military stated.
Air strikes hit a number of targets in northern Iraq’s Zap, Mt. Qandil, Sinat-Haftanin, Gara and Hakurk regions, the Turkish General Staff said on Nov. 13.
