ISTANBUL, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police detained 65 suspected drug dealers on Wednesday in a major operation in the northwestern province of Tekirdag.
In a statement posted on the social media platform X, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said the large-scale operation was carried out following three months of technical and physical surveillance.
Yerlikaya noted that the operation specifically targeted so-called "street dealers," who are known to sell drugs in neighborhoods and alleyways, often preying on young people.
According to the minister, the suspects had been selling narcotics through social media platforms and messaging apps, and were found to be operating in an organized manner.
"We essentially re-scanned the entire province of Tekirdag," Yerlikaya said, referring to the scope of the preparatory phase. He emphasized that teams carried out extensive fieldwork and analysis with great precision.
Türkiye frequently carries out nationwide operations targeting drug dealers as part of its ongoing efforts to combat narcotics trafficking and organized crime. ■