Public order operation in Istanbul: 617 suspects apprehended

Istanbul Provincial Police Department teams conducted the first phase of the operation at 221 locations across the city yesterday between 20:00 and 22:00, involving 1,373 personnel, a police helicopter, and 2 boats from the Marine Port Branch.

In the second phase, the "Peaceful Istanbul" operation was carried out between 22:00 and 23:59 with the participation of 1,633 personnel, concluding with inspections of public venues.

During the inspections, a total of 239 thousand 141 people underwent general information checks, and 617 suspects wanted for various crimes, along with 438 individuals evading military service, were apprehended.

During the operation, 517 suspects were taken into custody, and searches resulted in the seizure of 54 unlicensed pistols and rifles, 16 blank-firing pistols, 742 cartridges, 4 kilograms and 99 grams of narcotics, 658 narcotic pills, 1,075 grams of chemical substances, 9 thousand 393 synthetic pharmaceuticals, and 7 thousand 45 lira assessed to be proceeds from drug trafficking.

In the operation, where 622 public venues were inspected, legal proceedings were also initiated against 6 foreign nationals.

During the inspections, 35 thousand 25 vehicles and 3 thousand 254 motorcycles were checked; proceedings were initiated against 2 thousand 518 of these and 29 drivers, while 29 vehicles were banned from traffic.

A total of 1 million 362 thousand 829 lira in traffic fines were issued to drivers during the operation.

News Source: AA