Thirty seven arrests related to the drug operation in Kağıthane, İstanbul

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In Istanbul's Kağıthane district, 37 individuals have been arrested as a result of the investigation initiated following the death of police officer Hakan Telli during a raid on a house as part of an operation launched on suspicion of drug trafficking.

Yesterday (August 28) the 39 suspects brought to the courthouse were referred to the duty magistrate judge for possible detention after the prosecutor's interrogation.

The duty court ruled for the detention of 37 individuals. The charges brought against the detainees include "forming and leading a criminal organization," "being a member of a criminal organization," "aggravated intentional homicide," "drug trafficking," and "violating Law No. 6136."

Two suspects were released under judicial control.

What happened?

In the operation launched on suspicion of drug trafficking in Kağıthane, during a raid on August 25, police officer Hakan Telli was shot dead, and police officer Ahmet Yasin Çevik was injured. In the clash, one of the five individuals at the scene, identified as D.A. (18), was killed, and four others were detained.

According to the Anatolian Agency's report, the suspects who opened fire with long-barreled firearms during the raid were alleged to be members of an organized criminal group known as the "Anucurlar."

Following the incident, raids were conducted at 97 addresses. The searches at these addresses resulted in the seizure of long-barreled firearms, automatic pistols, 13 unlicensed pistols, 585 rounds of ammunition, a hunting rifle, 2 pump-action shotguns, a bulletproof vest, 51 grams of cannabis, 6 grams of cocaine, cocaine in 57 capsule forms, 6 grams of synthetic cannabinoid ("bonzai"), 2.7 liters of acetone, 3 precision scales, and 55 tablets of narcotic drugs.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Interior, the number of individuals arrested or convicted for drug-related crimes has risen from 36,000 to 128,000 over the past 7 years. According to data from the Ministry of Justice, the total number of inmates is 341,497. Thus, approximately one-third of inmates are incarcerated for drug-related offenses in Turkey.

(AS/PE)