Narco teams capture 610 drug dealers in 72 day across Turkey

Anti-narcotic teams formed as part of the government's anti-drug action plan have captured a total of 610 dealers in 72 days since they were established last December.

A total of 202 operations were launched between Dec. 11, 2014, and Feb. 20 by the anti-drug units, meaning 8.4 people statistically were captured per day. Some 182 of the 610 people were arrested.

Some 6,334 grams of heroin, 1,197 grams of cocaine, 60 kilograms of cannabis, 28,540 ecstasy drugs, 19 kilograms of synthetic drug of bonzai, 45 unregistered guns, 847 pistol cartridges, 27 rifles and 45 rifle cartridges were seized in the operations along with 102,000 Turkish Liras, 12,265 euros and 670 dollars earned through the illegal drug dealing.

Meanwhile, 89 operations were also launched against international drug gangs, in which 202 of 315 people detained were arrested. Police seized 125 kilograms of heroin, 36 kilograms of cocaine, 24 kilograms of cannabis, 14 kilograms of bonzai, 80,941 ecstasy drugs, 32 kilograms of hashish gum, 11 unregistered guns, 4,875 grams of methamphetamine and 15 kilograms of chemicals used in drug production.

Turkish authorities have launched a new plan of action against drugs, including bonzai, which has dramatically spread across Turkey in recent years. Bonzai was first seized in 2010 in the Central Anatolian province of Eski?ehir. The synthetic drug was seized in 26 provinces in 2011, 43 provinces in 2012 and 70 provinces in 2013.