Baku, Azerbaijan, April 16
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
During a special operation in Istanbul, 152 drug dealers were detained, Trend reports via Turkish media.
The special operation was carried out at 100 addresses, and firearms were also seized during its conduct.
The Turkish police previously conducted a special operation against drug dealers in Ankara, during which 241 people were arrested.
A total of 5 tons of heroin have been seized in Turkey since early 2019.
On February 5, 615 kilograms of seized were confiscated in Turkey’s Mersin Province, while 850 kilograms of heroin were seized in Istanbul on January 31.
As reported earlier by the Turkish Ministry of Internal Affairs, 3,722 tons of heroin were seized in January-February 2018, with 16,802 tons of psychotropic substances and 202 kilograms of the so-called “bonsai” narcotic substance.
Turkish Interior Minister Suleiman Soylu stated earlier that the country faces a serious threat and should toughen up the fight against drug addiction and drug trafficking.
"The number of deaths from drug overdoses is increasing every year," said the minister.
The minimum age for Turkish citizens starting to use drugs is 13 years, with 36 years being the average, and 65 being the maximum. Addicts in Turkey aged 15-24 years old make up 2.9 percent of the country's population, with those 25-44 years old making up 2.8 percent and those 45-64 years old making up 2.3 percent of the population.
There are 22 rehabilitation centers for drug addicts in Turkey.
(1 USD = 5.7956 TRY on April 16)
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