Over 11 tons of bootleg alcohol seized in Turkey

IZMIR / MERSIN / BURSA / MUGLA, Turkey

Turkish forces seized 11,400 liters of bootleg alcohol and 300 liters of smuggled alcohol in nationwide operations, security sources said Thursday.

Moreover, five suspects were detained.

Acting on a tip-off, gendarmerie forces raided a house in Menderes district of the western Izmir province and seized 11,200 liters of bootleg alcohol, said a source on condition of anonymity.

Also, in a separate operation in Narlidere town of the province, 3,560 liters of ethyl alcohol were seized.

An operation is underway to arrest a suspect.

In the northwestern province of Bursa, police teams seized 210 liters of counterfeit alcohol at two different addresses. Two suspects were also nabbed in the raids.

In a related development, police in the Mediterranean city of Mersin seized 300 liters of smuggled alcohol along with 9 liters of counterfeit alcohol.

Additionally, in Bodrum's district of Mugla, police found 240 liters of bootleg alcohol in a car. Two people in the vehicle were also arrested.

Bootleg alcohol is made by using low-cost methyl alcohol instead of ethyl alcohol, which causes serious harm to human health and, in some cases, even death.

* Writing by Ahmet Gencturk