Suspect remanded in largest drug bust in Turkey

By Yunus Hocaoglu

ERZURUM, Turkey

A court remanded in custody a suspect in the largest drug bust in Turkey, a judicial source said Monday.

The court in the eastern province of Erzurum remanded the driver, identified by initials S.D., of a truck carrying 1.5 tons of heroin.

The heroin was found hidden among marble stones in 17 large sacks on Jan. 24, said the source, on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to media.

This was the largest amount seized in a single anti-drug operation in the country, according to an earlier statement by the local governorship.

The truck, en route from Iran to Istanbul, was stopped by an anti-drug squad of Turkish police.

On Sunday, the driver along with three other suspects in was arrested on charges of drug trafficking.

The legal process is ongoing for the other suspects including the alleged ringleader.

According to police data, Turkish security forces have seized a total of 17.3 tons of heroin in 2018, arresting more than 1,500 suspects.