ISTANBUL, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Turkish authorities detained 179 suspects in a major nationwide crackdown on illegal and counterfeit alcohol, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced Thursday.
In a statement on the social media platform X, Yerlikaya said the operations, conducted across all the 81 provinces on Wednesday, led to the seizure of 30,836 bottles of illegal and counterfeit alcoholic beverages, 16,888 liters of ethanol, and 4,564 liters of fake alcohol.
Officials also uncovered and raided 13 illegal alcohol production facilities.
Yerlikaya noted that all 179 suspects are now facing legal proceedings, highlighting the government's ongoing commitment to combating organized crime and safeguarding public health.
Citizens were urged not to buy alcohol from unauthorized sources, as counterfeit products pose serious health risks and have repeatedly caused fatalities, especially around the New Year. ■