459 kilograms of drugs seized at Edirne border gates and Istanbul Airport

Customs Enforcement teams seized approximately 119 kilograms of cocaine, 326 kilograms of cannabis and 15 kilograms of heroin in four operations at Kapıkule, Hamzabeyli, İpsala and Istanbul Airport.

Customs Enforcement teams affiliated with the Ministry of Trade conducted four separate operations at the Kapıkule, Hamzabeyli and İpsala customs gates in Edirne and at Istanbul Airport. The ministry said the operations resulted in the seizure of 459 kilograms and 599 grams of drugs in total. The seized substances consisted of 118 kilograms and 658 grams of cocaine, 325 kilograms and 941 grams of cannabis, and 15 kilograms of heroin.

Packages hidden in fuel tanks

At Kapıkule, a vehicle flagged as suspicious in a risk analysis by the Edirne Customs Enforcement Smuggling and Intelligence Directorate was subjected to an X-ray scan. An unusual density was detected in the fuel tank, and a detailed search uncovered 118 kilograms and 658 grams of cocaine in 109 packages and 25 kilograms and 744 grams of cannabis in 32 packages.

Packages of cocaine and cannabis found in a vehicle's fuel tank at Kapıkule

At the Hamzabeyli Customs Gate, a truck arriving to enter Türkiye was deemed suspicious and directed to an X-ray scanner. Narcotics dogs Yappa and Atlas reacted to the fuel tank after suspicious density was detected in the vehicle. A search of the opened tank uncovered 81 kilograms and 134 grams of cannabis in 85 packages.

Largest seizure made in İpsala

At İpsala, a truck showing suspicious density during an X-ray scan was searched with the narcotics dog İda. A total of 219 kilograms and 63 grams of cannabis was found in 200 packages in the suspicious area. At Istanbul Airport, 15 kilograms of heroin was seized from the baggage of three passengers identified through risk analysis who were preparing to enter Türkiye.

Investigations into the operations are being conducted by the chief public prosecutors' offices in Edirne, Gaziosmanpaşa and İpsala. The Ministry of Trade said it would continue its round-the-clock fight against all forms of smuggling, particularly drugs that threaten public health and safety, by air, land and sea.

Photos and video: Ministry of Trade

459 kilograms of drugs seized at Edirne border gates and Istanbul Airport