The drug trap for youth: Back on the agenda with the chilling murder in Fatih... 'We will soon be a narco-state'

The brutal murder that took place in Istanbul's Fatih district on Friday continues to dominate Turkey's agenda. The 19-year-old perpetrator, Semih Çelik, brutally murdered his ex-girlfriend İkbal Uzuner and his new girlfriend Ayşenur Halil within half an hour of each other.

Climbing onto the Edirnekapı walls, Semih Çelik decapitated İkbal Uzuner, whom he had murdered, and threw her head down. The suspect then tied a rope around his neck and jumped from the walls, committing suicide.

While the chilling incident shocked all of Turkey, drug use among the youth and the increasing ease of access to these substances have returned to the agenda. In particular, footage of young people using drugs in the middle of the street, unaware of their actions due to the influence of the substance, is spreading rapidly on social media and drawing major backlash. Furthermore, drug sales targeting children in front of primary and high schools have also become a central issue.

'AFGHANS TRANSPORT IT, THE IRANIAN MAFIA PRODUCES IT'

Journalist and author Yılmaz Özdil made highly controversial statements regarding drug smuggling, trade, supply, and use in Turkey in a video he published on his YouTube channel today.

Drawing attention to Afghan migrants who enter Turkey illegally, Özdil said, "The world's producer of methamphetamine is Afghanistan. It is cheaper than heroin and creates a much stronger addiction than heroin. What did we do? We let these Afghans walk into Turkey. The Afghans transport the material, and the Iranian mafia, which has settled in Istanbul, produces it."

'COCAINE EVEN ENTERED THE AKP HEADQUARTERS'

Stating that methamphetamine use has increased in these lands since Afghan migrants began entering Turkey, Özdil said, "Methamphetamine has spread like a forest fire. There is also a terrible increase in heroin and cocaine. Cocaine even entered the AKP headquarters. There is a terrible increase in heroin and cocaine in the AKP, but at least in heroin and cocaine, we are still in the position of a transit country. That is, it enters and leaves. However, we have now become a market country for methamphetamine. It is produced and sold here."

Özdil stated that methamphetamine rots the human body from the inside out, leads to weight loss, hallucinations, and death. Özdil also noted that the age of starting methamphetamine in Turkey has dropped to 15, indicating that the substance directly targets the youth.

Stating that drugs are seen more commonly in conservative and poor neighborhoods, Yılmaz Özdil cited a report by the Social Democracy Foundation on substance use in poor neighborhoods and said the following:

'THERE IS METHAMPHETAMINE IN ALL 81 PROVINCES'

"Drugs are even being supplied from betting shops and hookah cafes; it is very easy now. There is a report by the Turkish General Directorate of Security; Turkey, which used to be a transit country, has become a market country. It is written on the official website of the General Directorate of Security; there is methamphetamine in all 81 of our 81 provinces."

Stating that Turkey has become a country that is a mix of Mexico and Afghanistan due to the drug issues being experienced, Özdil said, "The scourge called drugs has become intertwined with politics. If drugs continue to be given such free rein in Turkey, it is imminent; look, we will become a narco-state."

Touching upon the horrific murder committed on Friday and the issue of police officer Şeyda Yılmaz, who was martyred by Yunus Emre Geçti, Yılmaz Özdil said the following:

'OUR CHILDREN WILL PAY THE PRICE FOR OUR SINS'

"Our children and grandchildren will pay the price for our sins. If we continue to go on with this mindset, be prepared to experience events like the chilling scenes on the Edirnekapı walls, the martyrdom of our female police officer, and drug-related disasters every day."

Warning families about the issue of drugs and methamphetamine, Özdil concluded his words as follows:

"I am warning families with school-age children again from here, in a friendly, amicable way, with the ethics of the journalism profession: This business has taken a very dangerous turn. The state is not doing its job, it is not doing what is necessary, my brother. Protect your children."