346 detained in Trkiye anti-drug operation

346 detained in Trkiye anti-drug operation

Xinhua
21 Feb 2026, 14:45 GMT+

ISTANBUL, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Turkish gendarmerie detained 346 people on Saturday in a large-scale anti-drug operation across five provinces, authorities said.

The Gendarmerie General Command said that 14 commando units, backed by specially trained narcotics detection dogs, launched raids simultaneously at 93 locations in the southern province of Adana, central Nevsehir, and the northwestern provinces of Balikesir, Canakkale and Bursa.

During the operation, military forces seized over 80,000 drug pills, 11 kg of various narcotics, numerous unlicensed pistols and shotguns, as well as drug paraphernalia and precision scales, the command said in a statement.

"Suspects were monitored through technical and physical surveillance, and their criminal activities were documented individually," it said.

The operation is part of Trkiye's ongoing efforts to curb drug trafficking and dismantle organized crime networks nationwide.

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