Turkish security forces have seized six million drug pills and 270 kilograms of narcotics in sweeping operations across 23 provinces over the past two weeks, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya has confirmed.
The raids, carried out by the gendarmerie, targeted drug dealers and organized trafficking networks operating both online and in local communities, Yerlikaya said in a statement on X.
Authorities detained 521 suspects. Of those, 177 were formally arrested, while 91 were released under judicial control.
Legal proceedings for the remaining suspects are continuing.
Investigators found that the groups were using social media platforms and messaging apps to sell drugs and coordinate large‑scale trafficking operations.
Türkiye, a key transit point between Asia and Europe, has long battled international narcotics smuggling. Security forces routinely launch major operations aimed at disrupting drug networks and curbing abuse.
