Cocaine transported in vehicle belonging to Turkey's Minsk Embassy: 57 kilos in two suitcases

57 kilograms of cocaine were brought to Istanbul in a vehicle with diplomatic plates belonging to Turkey's Minsk Embassy.

The vehicle, which was followed step by step, arrived in Zeytinburnu.

The suspects were caught red-handed while the drugs in 2 suitcases were about to be handed over to a person named Şahin Şekerci. 3 people, including an embassy employee, were arrested.

Şekerci, who was about to take delivery of the drugs, disappeared without a trace after being released 1 month after his arrest.

Halktv.com.tr reporter Dinçer Gökçe explained the details of the scandal on the ROTA program.

"All information and photographs regarding this incident are coming to light for the first time. The incident is as follows: the narcotics police knew and identified that a drug shipment would be made from Europe to Turkey.

Serkan Albayrak, Ercan Çoplar, and Birkan Demirci. They took their precautions according to the intelligence in the police's possession.

Serkan Albayrak and Serkan Çoplar entered through the Kapıkule border gate. Serkan Albayrak has had an indefinite residence permit in Minsk for 24 years. Ercan Çoklar and Serkan Albayrak are childhood friends."

THEY MET IN THE PARKING LOT

"The police pursuit continued until Cevizlibağ in Zeytinburnu. Around 02:45, the vehicle containing Demirci and Albayrak arrived at the open parking lot of a luxury residential complex in Cevizlibağ. When the vehicle reached the parking lot, there was a person waiting for them there. It was understood that this person was Şahin Şekerci (29). According to the expert report included in the case file, Albayrak took his small red suitcase, in which no drugs were found, from the trunk of the vehicle at this time."

57 KILOS OF COCAINE IN TWO SUITCASES

Meanwhile, Şekerci pulled his vehicle right next to the pair's vehicle. At the moment the 2nd suitcase was to be removed from the trunk, police teams raided the scene. Şahin Şekerci, Birkan Demirci, and Serkan Albayrak were handcuffed. The 2 suitcases in the embassy vehicle were taken down to the ground by the police. When the suitcases were opened, it was seen that both of the suitcases that Birkan Demirci had brought into the country were full of drugs. In the detailed examination carried out at the police station, 57 kilograms and 274 grams of cocaine were found inside the 2 suitcases.

THEY TRANSPORTED DRUGS IN A VEHICLE WITH DIPLOMATIC PLATES

"The main actor is the vehicle with diplomatic plates, which is a vehicle of Turkey's Minsk Embassy. This vehicle is driven by Birkan Demirci, who works as a driver at the Embassy. Birkan Demirci came to Turkey on February 9, 2023, the day immediately following the earthquake. Since it is a diplomatic vehicle, it is not subjected to a physical search. Birkan says his vehicle was not subjected to a physical search, but the footage says otherwise."