Turkish authorities announced the arrest of 234 individuals in a coordinated effort with four European nations targeting criminal drug trafficking organizations, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya on Tuesday.
“We have taken into custody 234 high-ranking leaders of crime syndicates—225 apprehended within Turkey and nine overseas,” Yerlikaya stated, noting that 10 of those arrested were on Interpol’s red notice list.
Addressing a press conference in Ankara, he explained that the suspects were under investigation for a range of serious offenses, including international drug trafficking, money laundering, murder, kidnapping, extortion, and threats.
Operations were carried out in Belgium, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, and Turkey, with the arrested individuals believed to be involved in the production and distribution of cocaine, heroin, and other illicit drugs.
The operation also resulted in the seizure of numerous assets, including properties, vehicles, business shares, and bank accounts, totaling an estimated value of 13 billion lira (approximately $341 million).
Yerlikaya highlighted that the Turkish police collaborated with Europol for eight months to investigate and unravel the organization’s connections, operations, and strategies.
