Turkey: Huge seizure of terrorist PYD/PKK opiates

KILIS, Turkey

Turkish security forces fighting PYD/PKK terror group smuggling seized a large amount of opiate drugs on Friday, according to security sources.

The forces were acting on intelligence that PYD/PKK members were trying to smuggle drugs into Turkey from Syria, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

In an operation done together with border forces, gendarmerie forces seized a total of 1.5 million opiate drugs in southeastern Kilis, in mined terrain near the Syrian border.

The drugs were in five sacks and belonged to the PYD/PKK, the sources said.

The sources added that operations to arrest the suspects are ongoing.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women and children. The PYD/YPG is its Syrian branch.

*Writing by Fatih Hafız Mehmet