No passage for drugs: 525 dealers caught in 6-month operation

Ankara has been the scene of the largest drug operation in the history of the Republic. Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya shared the details of the operation in a statement on his social media account this morning. In the massive operation codenamed “NARKOKAPAN-ANKARA”, 525 drug dealers were taken into custody.

6-MONTH PREPARATION PROCESS

According to the information provided by Minister Yerlikaya, preparations for the operation were meticulously carried out for exactly 6 months. Evidence was collected through technical and physical surveillance, the suspects' connections were unraveled, and Ankara was essentially X-rayed once again.

TARGET: STREET DEALERS IN NEIGHBORHOODS

The primary target of the operation was street dealers, known as “torbacı” (baggers), who supply drugs to young people in neighborhoods, over the internet, and through social media platforms. Yerlikaya stated, “We reached our goal by unraveling these dark networks one by one.”

MASSIVE PARTICIPATION: 4 THOUSAND 768 POLICE OFFICERS ON DUTY

The operation involved:

4 thousand 768 police officers

1 thousand 461 teams

40 detector dogs

4 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)

air-supported teams.

Simultaneous raids were conducted on 626 addresses across Ankara.

A clear message to drug traffickers: “You are in a dead end!”

Minister Yerlikaya used strong language in his statement regarding the operation:

“We have shown these dark entities that plague our youth once again: The street you enter is a dead end! If you attempt to poison our nation, we will make your life miserable!”

OPERATION STILL ONGOING

It was reported that only the first phase of the operation has been completed, the investigation is ongoing, and additional detentions may follow. The suspects taken into custody are expected to be referred to the courthouse following their processing at the police station.

GREAT SUPPORT FROM INSTITUTIONS

The success of the operation was achieved through the coordinated work of the Ankara Governorship, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the General Directorate of Security, the Anti-Narcotic Crimes Department, and the Ankara Police Department.

News Source: 12punto