Azerbaijan, Baku, March 30 /Trend/
Turkish police have confiscated tons of illicit drugs across the country since 2005, Anadolu News Agency reported.
According to a report of Security Department, the amount of heroin, which was seized since 2005, increased 67 percent to 12.2 tons in 2009, however, it dropped 26 percent to 9 tons in 2010.
Although the amount of seized heroin decreased in 2010, the number of operations rose 50 percent and the number of captured suspects increased 21 percent.
The highest amount of heroin was seized in Marmara, Eastern Anatolia and Mediterranean regions.
Eastern Anatolia is the region where illicit drugs enter Turkey, and Marmara is the region which is an opening door to Europe.
The amount of cocaine which was seized by police rose 226 percent in 2010. The number of operations to confiscate cocaine rose 15 percent, and the number of suspects rose four percent in 2010. Highest amount of cocaine was seized in Marmara and Southeastern Anatolia regions.
Meanwhile, the amount of hashish, which police confiscated in the last five years, increased significantly. The rise is 219 percent in 2010 when compared to 2006. It is 21 percent when compared to 2009. Highest amount of hashish was seized in Southeastern Anatolia, Marmara and Eastern Anatolia regions. The number of operations and captured suspects increased 11 percent in 2010 when compared to 2009.
The amount of illicit drugs, the number of operations and captured suspects according to years are as follows;
Year Amount Operations Suspects
2006 7.3 tons 678 1,905
2007 9.078 tons 951 2,579
2008 10.3 tons 1,329 3,016
2009 12.2 tons 1,743 4,140
2010 9.053 tons 2,619 5,417
The number of suspects, who were caught connection with illicit drug trafficking according to years, is as follows;
Year Suspects
2006 11,979
2007 17,127
2008 23,460
2009 26,096
2010 36,010