Thank Goodness Kalben Has Been Caught

Thank goodness Kalben has been caught. We are safer now. A group of artists won't be able to party. Speaking of security and drugs, shouldn't we be a bit more serious? Instead of chasing clicks, character assassination, and tabloid gossip, please, let's have some seriousness!

In January 2023, an article by Fehim Taştekin was published:

https://www.al-monitor.com/tr/originals/2023/01/why-are-foreign-mobsters-drug-gangs-attracted-turkey

I am quoting it exactly: ''The number of assassinations or clashes showing that Russian, Serbian, Azeri, and Georgian gang leaders have chosen Turkey to base themselves is increasing... Organized crime members do not reveal themselves through police pursuit, but through gang wars.'' According to another report, Turkey has become a drug country.

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2024/03/04/turkey-the-whistle-blows-in-narco-land_6582161_4.html

Voice of America, relying on its ''experts,'' emphasizes that Turkey is a drug corridor:

https://www.voanews.com/a/experts-say-turkey-becoming-a-drug-transit-hub-/7565573.html

The report titled ''Turkey Drug Report: Trends and Developments,'' signed by the Ministry of Interior, the Anti-Narcotic Crimes Department of the General Directorate of Security, and the Turkish Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, was published in 2023. All those interested in the subject should read this very detailed report.

When this report is read carefully, it is understood that Turkey is a corridor in international drug trafficking. Given this, it is clear that the methods and procedures for combating drugs are not in line with this reality. A significant portion of law enforcement activities is directed at people who do nothing more than purchase/accept/possess drugs for personal use.

According to the report, ''When the distribution of the 246,237 drug incidents that occurred in Turkey in 2022 is examined by crime type...'' it is seen that 15.1 percent of the incidents are drug manufacturing and trafficking. As also understood from the report, drug manufacturing and trafficking are closely related to issues such as terrorism financing and financial crimes. In that case, we are also facing a security and prosperity problem. When we take into account the sectors stemming from drug revenue, we must also consider the indirect effects of drug money. For example, wouldn't drug cartels, terrorist organizations, and international actors that finance terrorism also finance politics? There is no item about this in the report. However, if politics is also being financed, this will have very dangerous consequences.

Similarly, is it possible for drug networks that finance terrorism, are complicit in terrorism, and are intertwined with organized crime not to reach into the judiciary? We must be more serious about drugs. Our fight must be more sincere.