The Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that 42 suspects were caught and assets worth 7 billion 657 million TL were seized in the drug operation carried out against the international drug network in 13 provinces based in Istanbul.
42 SUSPECTS WERE CAUGHT DURING OPERATIONS
In the written statement made by the Ministry regarding the operation, the following statements were made:
"Simultaneous operations against the international drug network were carried out by the Istanbul Provincial Police Department's Anti-Narcotic Crimes and Intelligence Branch Directorates, under the coordination of the General Directorate of Security (EGM) Anti-Narcotic Crimes Directorate, Interpol-Europol Department, Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) and Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.
42 suspects were caught in operations carried out with the participation of 2 thousand personnel in Istanbul-based Antalya, Bursa, Diyarbakır, Edirne, Hakkari, Hatay, Kayseri, Kocaeli, Mersin, Sakarya, Samsun and Van.
Suspects caught during operations; It was determined that they organized the production, shipment and distribution of drugs in different countries and provinces at the international level, and managed the supply of chemical substances and the transportation and logistics processes of international shipments. In addition, by examining the encrypted communication data, the connections between the organization's international supply activities and its domestic distribution network were revealed and it was determined that they were linked to a total of 10 tons and 100 kilograms of drugs (heroin, marijuana and cocaine).
As a result of the studies, it was determined that it was obtained from crime and was subject to laundering activities; A total of 7 billion 657 million TL worth of assets, including bank accounts and crypto assets belonging to 163 real persons, 556 real estate, 155 motor vehicles and partnership shares in 71 companies, were seized.
"We congratulate our heroic police officers, our Directorate of Combating Narcotic Crimes, our Interpol-Europol Department, our MASAK, our Istanbul Police Department, our Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and all those who contributed."
"WE WILL DESTROY THE SULATE YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED BY POISONING THE FUTURE OF THIS NATION'S CHILDREN"
Minister of Internal Affairs Mustafa Çiftçi also stated the following in his statement on his social media account:
"The scoundrels who think they are untouchable with the dirty money they earn from the drug trade should not think that they will escape accountability by hiding behind companies and real estate. We are not only after the poison traffickers, but also those who organize and finance this dirty trade and those who try to launder the proceeds of crime. After a meticulous follow-up carried out with great sensitivity, a successful operation based in Istanbul was carried out against the international drug network.
Assets worth 7 billion 657 million TL were seized during the operation against the criminal network, which was found to be linked to 10 tons and 100 kilograms of drugs. Neither your dirty money will protect you nor the wealth you acquired from crime will save you. We will destroy the sultanate you have established by poisoning the future of this nation's children. I wholeheartedly congratulate our heroic Police Department, our Directorate of Combating Narcotic Crimes, our Istanbul Police Department and our Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, who contributed to the operation. "We will eradicate crime and the source of dirty money."
