Turkey seized 1.3 tons of marijuana at two ports

The Turkish Ministry of Trade issued a statement saying that the Turkish police carried out operations in two border areas in the northwest on the same day and seized approximately 1.3 tons of marijuana.

Xinhua News Agency reported that the Turkish Ministry of Trade issued a statement on Saturday (October 18) saying that the Turkish police carried out anti-drug operations in the Tekilda customs area along the coast of the Sea of Marmara in the northwest and the Ipsala border crossing in Edirna Province bordering Greece on the same day. Eventually, 1.153 tons of marijuana were seized in the Tekilda customs area. A total of 173 kilograms of marijuana, weighing 1.326 tons, were seized at the Ipsala border crossing.

At present, the chief prosecutor's offices of the two places are conducting a joint investigation.

Turkey spans the Eurasian continent, and many international drug smuggling routes pass through its territory. Turkey has stepped up drug inspections along its northwestern border with Greece and Bulgaria.

Official data shows that in the first nine months of this year, Turkey seized over 5.5 tons of drugs at these border crossings and in Edirne Province, and detained 153 suspects. Compared with the same period last year, the number of seized drugs has increased by 123%.