So, what will happen to the drug money?

The framework law has passed in Parliament.

As it has been presented to the people of our country, its primary purpose is to determine the legal mechanisms to be implemented after the PKK lays down its arms and dissolves itself...

Regulations concerning membership in an organization, aiding an organization, propaganda, certain crimes committed within the scope of organizational activities, and the financing of terrorism are included within the scope.

However, there is also a serious gap.

The law does not contain any specific regulation regarding the drug trafficking that the PKK has been feeding off of for years.

Yet, we know very well that this is the crucial point. It is not just a small amount; we are talking about billions of dollars.

Let us put on our reading glasses, but first, let us call it by its proper name; the PKK is, in the literal sense of the word, a narco-terrorist organization. It controls the section of the drug trafficking route extending from Afghanistan to Europe that passes through Iran and Iraq, and it finances itself and its political extensions with the billions of dollars generated from this.

Before we flesh this out, let us refresh our memories.

The organization's connection to drug trafficking dates back to the time it was established, but we know it appeared on the radar of Western capitals in the early 1990s.

During that period, individuals and networks linked to the PKK began to emerge in drug investigations in Europe. At first, it was not taken very seriously, but by 1995, the truth came out; the UN, based on police reports from Italy and Germany, recorded the PKK's role in global and regional drug trafficking.

This was extremely important, but Western countries, preferring to look out for their own interests, played the three monkeys for a while longer. After all, intelligence services were involved, and everyone was getting their share in one way or another.

However, 13 years later, an unexpected voice came from Washington. The PKK had gained so much power in drug trafficking that the threshold for ignoring it had been crossed. On May 30, 2008, the US Department of the Treasury was forced to designate the organization as a significant foreign narcotics trafficker under the "Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act."

It wrote that the PKK had been involved in the production, transportation, and trade of opium and cannabis through its network in Europe for over 20 years, and more importantly, it characterized the drug trade as one of the PKK's most profitable criminal activities, determining that these revenues were used to procure weapons and materials.

These were not just general accusations.

For example, it was stated that Zeyneddin Geleri, who was sanctioned by the Treasury Department in 2012, was one of the high-ranking figures of the PKK and was linked to a Romania-based structure involved in drug trafficking in Europe.

In the same document, the connection of Cerkez Akbulut, who was stated to be a PKK activist, to an operation in Moldova where 199 kilograms of heroin were seized was described, and it was noted that Ömer Boztepe, who was stated to act on behalf of the PKK, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for drug trafficking.

These are important because, rather than abstract intelligence assessments, specific individuals and specific operations were reflected in official documents.

Then, of course, there is Europol's 2022 TE-SAT report.

It was clearly written that PKK members were involved in organized criminal activities in Europe such as money laundering, extortion, racketeering, and drug trafficking.

More importantly, this assessment continued in the 2024 report.

Among the PKK's financing sources in Europe, alongside seemingly legal income such as donations, events, membership fees, and product sales, extortion, fraud, racketeering, money laundering, and drug trafficking were also listed.

Let us come to Turkey...

Turkey is one of the important crossroads of the Balkan drug traffic extending from Asia to Europe.

In particular, heroin originating from Afghanistan is sent to Turkey via Iran, and from there to Europe via the Balkans. Therefore, the PKK's operation in the geography between eastern Turkey, northern Iraq, and Europe creates a strategic geographical intersection in terms of the drug economy.

It is worth underlining that describing the PKK's connection to the drug economy merely as "the PKK sells drugs" is too simplistic.

We can speak of several different mechanisms in the PKK's crime-terror relationship.

The first is direct drug production or trade; the second is the collection of "taxes," extortion, or commissions from drug traffickers; the third is generating income in exchange for providing security for drug production and shipment in regions controlled by the organization; the fourth is that individuals involved in the drug trade and members of the organization are in the same criminal network; the fifth is the laundering of money obtained from drugs in other countries and then transferring it to the organization; the sixth is that even if the drug money does not go directly to the organization, it finances the activities of organization members or affiliated structures.

Therefore, while the target of the investigations launched should not only be the person carrying the drugs but also the address where the money goes, this aspect of the issue has been constantly ignored "politically."

The matter touched upon Western intelligence services, and naturally, someone was hitting the brakes.

In past years, various figures have been published stating that the PKK earns 1.5 billion, 2 billion, or even 3 billion dollars from drugs. But everyone who is somewhat familiar with the issues knows very well that this is just the tip of the iceberg.

If we come to the European leg...

Europol's reports open an important window here.

It is stated that PKK structures in Europe are not limited to propaganda and political activities; financing, recruitment, and organizational activities are also carried out. The 2024 report also lists drug trafficking and money laundering among these financing sources. Moreover, according to Europol's assessment, the drug trade is one of the largest income areas of the organized crime economy in Europe, and drugs account for approximately one-fifth of organized crime revenues.

Let us come to the crux of the matter; let's say the organization entered a liquidation process and shut down, as they are trying to feed us.

Well, what will happen to the existing criminal economy?

This is the truly critical issue regarding today's framework law.

If an organizational dissolution process is to begin with the liquidation of the PKK's armed structure, the following questions must be asked:

Will the money assessed to have been obtained from the drug trade be investigated?

Will the financial trail of crime proceeds linked to the organization be followed?

Through what mechanism will the drug connections in Europe be investigated?

What will happen to the individuals who launder drug money on behalf of the organization?

Will real estate and companies purchased with drug proceeds be investigated?

Will the financial relationships between organization members and drug traffickers be examined?

Will terror financing investigations and drug investigations be conducted separately?

Will the PKK laying down its arms eliminate the responsibilities arising from past drug and organized crime activities?

Most importantly:

While the organization lays down its arms, will its financial infrastructure that feeds on drug trafficking also be liquidated?

In the so-called "Terror-Free Turkey" process, will not only where the weapons will be surrendered but also where the money comes from and where it goes be on the table?

In short, let us ask, "Under whose control will the drug traffic remain while the PKK lays down its arms?" and put a period to our article.