Turkey police conduct large-scale crackdown on drugs, cybercrime and migrant smuggling
Police forces in Turkey carried out simultaneous nationwide operations targeting several criminal sectors. In Istanbul’s Ümraniye district, officers seized about 1.7 kg of narcotics, an AK‑47 rifle, a handgun and arrested two suspects. A broader narcotics sweep across 24 provinces recovered 412 kg of drugs and 367 000 pills, leading to 202 arrests, 122 of whom were jailed.
A coordinated cyber‑crime crackdown in 29 provinces detained 409 individuals; 213 were formally arrested for offenses including large‑scale fraud, illegal betting, and online child‑exploitation, while 117 were placed under judicial control.
Separately, a migrant‑smuggling investigation in Fethiye, Muğla, resulted in 18 arrests, among them local businesspeople suspected of facilitating illegal crossings. Organized‑crime raids in Izmir and other cities also uncovered firearms, ammunition, small‑scale drug caches and led to multiple prosecutions.
Authorities emphasized that the operations aim to dismantle criminal networks, disrupt illegal financing and protect public safety.