Drugs

15 kilograms of cocaine seized in operations at two airports in Istanbul

The Customs Enforcement teams of the Ministry of Commerce have seized a total of 15 kilograms of cocaine absorbed in cosmetics and textile products and hidden in machine parts by deciphering the incredible methods used by drug traffickers at Sabiha Gökçen and Atatürk Airport.

Drug traffickers, who were hit hard thanks to the successful operations carried out by Customs Enforcement Teams in 2020, resorted to incredible methods to avoid being caught, but still could not surpass the Customs Enforcement teams.

Risky passengers and cargoes were identified in the analysis conducted within the framework of anti-drug trafficking activities carried out by the Istanbul Customs Protection, Smuggling and Intelligence Directorate. The aircraft carrying these passengers and cargo were monitored, and passenger baggage and cargo shipments suspected of containing drugs were checked one by one with narcotic detector dogs and x-ray scanning systems. Thus, 15 kilograms of cocaine were seized in three successive operations carried out in the last month of 2020.

Cocaine impregnated into fabrics detected

In the first operation carried out, a foreign passenger coming to Sabiha Gökçen Airport was evaluated as risky. The two suitcases accompanying the passenger were first checked with narcotic detector dogs and then with a luggage x-ray machine. In the preliminary analysis made with drug test wipes, it was determined that the powder substance, which was found in the luggage that was opened and decided to be searched, was hidden in the form of plates among the textile products and absorbed into the fabrics. The suspect passenger was detained in relation to 2.5 kilograms of cocaine with a market value of approximately 1.8 million liras.

3.5 kilograms of cocaine detected in cosmetic cream form

Customs Enforcement teams in operation, while another received for Turkey can be inserted in the liquid drug products taken into account intelligence information. Passengers arriving at Sabiha Gökçen Airport were analyzed accordingly and the baggage of a suspected passenger was checked. After the control, cosmetic products in the baggage were evaluated as risky. A preliminary analysis was carried out with drug test wipes by taking samples from cosmetic products in cream form. In the analysis made, it was determined that these products contained drugs of cocaine type in impregnated form. One person was detained, while 3.5 kilograms of cocaine with a market value of approximately 2.6 million liras were seized.

9 kilograms of cocaine was seized in a metal machine part

In the drug operation carried out at the Atatürk Airport Cargo Terminal, this time the target of the teams was a shipment that was considered risky.

Suspecting a machine from parts imported from Colombia to Turkey team they were then checked by detector dogs, x-ray equipment with cargo before this post. After the scan, the suspect density was encountered and the post to which the detector dogs reacted was opened and searched. When the content of the shipment was cut, it was understood that the metal machine part was completely filled with drugs. In this incident, cocaine worth approximately 6.6 million lira, with a total weight of 9 kilograms, was seized.

In every 3 incidents, 15 kilograms of drugs with a market value of about 11 million were seized, while suspects were detained.