International Drug Network Leader Caught in Istanbul

Istanbul Police Department Anti-Narcotic Crimes and Intelligence Branch Directorate teams, under the coordination of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and with the support of the National Intelligence Organization and the General Directorate of Security Anti-Narcotic Crimes Directorate, determined that İ.Y., who was wanted for the crimes of "establishing an organization to commit crimes" and "drug trafficking", continued his criminal activities in the country and abroad.

It was determined that the suspect gave instructions to the members of the organization via encrypted communication systems, organized international drug shipment through the criminal organization he led, and was responsible for a total of 2 tons of drugs seized domestically and abroad.

Following the technical and physical follow-up, the suspect, who was found to be hiding at an address in Sarıyer, was caught in the operation organized by the teams.

During the searches made at the address where he was hiding, D.G. belonging to the suspect was found. A fake foreign identity document issued in his name was seized.

The suspect was taken to the police station for processing.

"They will not be able to escape from our state's determined pursuit and justice."

Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek, in his post on his NSosyal account, stated that under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, they are uncompromisingly fighting against drugs and organized crimes with all the means of the state and the strong coordination of the judiciary, security and intelligence units.

Pointing out that the targets of this fight were "drug barons", Gürlek said the following about the operation:

"As a result of the work carried out by our Istanbul Police Department, MİT Directorate and EGM Anti-Narcotic Crimes Directorate, under the coordination of our Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, İslam Yakut, the leader of the international drug trafficking criminal organization, was caught and detained in Istanbul. It was determined that the suspect, who has been sought as a fugitive since 2017, continued to manage the criminal organization from places where he had been hiding at home and abroad for a long time. It was determined that the suspect gave instructions to the members of the organization via ANOM and SKY ECC encrypted communication systems. "It was revealed that the criminal organization that organized the shipment of heroin from Iran and Afghanistan to Europe and synthetic drugs from Europe to our country was responsible for a total of 2 tons of drugs seized in Turkey and European countries."

"No matter where the drug lords hide, no matter what methods they try to cover their tracks, they will not be able to escape from our state's determined pursuit and justice." Gürlek emphasized that they will continue the fight against poison merchants targeting young people and the future with the same determination.