Turkey's National Intelligence Organization (MİT) and the Gendarmerie have conducted a joint operation targeting individuals accused of selling narcotics through social media platforms.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, citing reports from the Turkish broadcaster NTV, the operation was executed across multiple provinces to dismantle a criminal network involved in illicit drug distribution.
Authorities initiated search and arrest warrants for 50 suspects, including 49 individuals in 17 districts of Istanbul and one person in Sakarya. To date, 43 suspects have been detained, while search operations continue for the remaining seven individuals.
During the raids on the suspects' premises, law enforcement seized 60 grams of heroin, 10 grams of cocaine, 25 pills, 26,000 euros, 11,150 Turkish liras, two handguns, nine cartridges, and two pieces of ammunition. An investigation into the criminal network is currently underway.
Turkey has intensified its efforts in recent years to combat organized crime and drug trafficking, frequently utilizing intelligence-led operations to disrupt distribution channels that increasingly leverage digital platforms and social media to reach consumers.
