Baku, Azerbaijan, March 4
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
Turkish police have confiscated about 200 kilograms of cocaine in Istanbul, Trend reports with reference to Turkish media.
It is reported that cocaine was in one of the containers delivered from one state in South America. The total market value of the confiscated cocaine is estimated at 40 million Turkish liras.
Since the beginning of 2019 up till now, five tons of heroin were confiscated in Turkey.
Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu had said the country is facing a great risk and must tighten the fight against drug addiction and drug trafficking.
"The death toll from drug overdose is growing every year," the minister said.
The minimum age of Turkish citizens who started using drugs is 13 years, the average age – 36 years, the maximum age – 65 years.
Thus, 2.9 percent of the country's population account for drug addicts aged 15-24, 2.8 percent - those aged 25-44, 2.3 percent - drug addicts aged 45-64.
There are 22 centers in the country where the drug addicts are undergoing treatment.
More than 300,000 people have been detained in Istanbul for using and selling drugs over the past four years.
(5.3538 TRY = 1 USD on March 4)
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