Nearly 3 Tons of Narcotic Drug Seized at Istanbul's Ambarlı Port
Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Turkish customs enforcement and gendarmerie forces seized approximately 3 tons of pregabalin, a type of narcotic drug, at Ambarlı Port in Istanbul.
- The seizure occurred when a container arriving in Turkey was flagged as suspicious during risk analysis and targeting operations.
- Authorities discovered the drug, in powder form, hidden among commercial goods, and an investigation is ongoing.
Turkish authorities have intercepted a significant quantity of illicit substances at Istanbul's Ambarlı Port, confiscating approximately 3 tons of pregabalin. The operation, conducted jointly by the Ministry of Trade's Customs Enforcement teams and the Gendarmerie General Command, targeted a container that raised suspicion during routine risk analysis.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Trade, the container was flagged as suspicious upon its arrival at the port. A detailed search revealed that the substance, identified as pregabalin in powder form, was concealed among legitimate commercial goods. This discovery marks a substantial success for anti-narcotics efforts in the region.
The pregabalin, a medication often misused as a recreational drug, was seized, and the relevant Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığı (Public Prosecutor's Office) has launched an investigation into the incident. The operation underscores the ongoing efforts by Turkish authorities to combat drug trafficking and secure the nation's borders against the flow of illegal substances.
Originally published by Cumhuriyet in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.