Turkish customs enforcement teams seized a total of 659 kilograms of narcotics in operations carried out across the country over the past week, according to Türkiye’s Ministry of Trade.
Authorities said the operations were conducted by anti-smuggling and customs protection units at border crossings, airports and ports as part of ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking networks. The seized substances included various narcotics and illegal chemicals allegedly intended for distribution both inside Türkiye and abroad.
Officials stated that several suspects were detained during the operations, while investigations remain ongoing into the wider trafficking networks connected to the shipments. Turkish authorities have increased anti-smuggling measures in recent years due to the country’s geographic position between Asia, the Middle East and Europe, making it a key transit route for international drug trafficking.
The ministry said customs teams continue to use advanced scanning technologies, intelligence sharing and coordinated border operations to intercept illegal shipments. Turkish security forces have carried out multiple large-scale anti-drug operations in 2026 as Ankara intensifies efforts against organised crime groups involved in narcotics trafficking. Authorities did not immediately release full details regarding all of the substances seized or the identities of those detained.
