Based on a tip, the İstanbul Police Narcotics Department launched an operation eight months ago against leading drug gangs in Turkey allegedly engaged in international drug trafficking. Having completed their surveillance, narcotics teams raided a house in Pendik on Tuesday, where leaders of these gangs were having a meeting. The figures arrested are thought to be the successors of famous Turkish drug barons such as Örfi Çetinkaya, Hüseyin Baybaşin, Cemal Nayır and Celal Gül who were previously captured and jailed.The suspects, including a woman, have reportedly sent drugs brought into the country illegally from Iran to some European countries such as the Netherlands, Germany and Spain. Former Trade and Industry Minister Yalım Erez's cousin and former Van deputy Mustafa Bayram's son-in-law are among the detainees. An Iranian man, who is accused of supplying drugs for the barons, is also being held as part of the operation.
İstanbul police have conducted frequent anti-drug operations lately. In a recent maneuver, ties between a drug baron who was recently detained by police in a massive anti-drug operation in İstanbul and three high-ranking police officers -- including Deputy National Police Chief Emin Arslan, who allegedly provided the baron with intelligence on police operations -- were revealed.
