Large haul of illicit drugs seized in SE Turkiye

Turkish authorities seized 470 kg of skunk and 85 kg of cannabis in an operation carried out by the gendarmerie in the southeastern border province of Diyarbakir, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Sunday.



Yerlikaya said on the social media platform X that 25 suspects had been detained, including 14 identified as drug traffickers. He did not specify when the operation took place.



Video posted on his X account showed gendarmerie troops entering a large yard in a hilly area, supported by sniffer dogs, and seizing large quantities of drugs.



Turkiye, a key transit route for illegal narcotics destined for Europe, has stepped up efforts to combat drug trafficking. Authorities say increased border checks and nationwide crackdowns have led to major seizures and a rise in arrests.