10.02.2026 08:21
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that 305 suspects were arrested in simultaneous operations conducted in 14 provinces centered in Istanbul against networks involved in drug trafficking on social media. It was determined that during 5 months of technical and physical surveillance, the suspects communicated in closed groups, could only enter the groups through special invitations or references, and that the sellers frequently changed their identities to avoid being exposed.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that a large-scale operation was carried out against individuals selling drugs through social media. In operations conducted simultaneously this morning in 14 provinces centered in Istanbul, 305 suspects were detained.
BUTTON PRESSED AFTER 5 MONTHS OF MONITORING
Teams from the Istanbul Police Department's Narcotic Crimes Division conducted a 5-month technical and physical surveillance of suspects involved in drug trafficking under the coordination of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. As a result of the investigations, it was determined that the suspects were trading drugs by establishing end-to-end encrypted closed groups through instant messaging applications and social media platforms.
CLOSED GROUPS, SECRET COURIERS, CONSTANTLY CHANGING IDENTITIES
Police teams found that drug supply was provided in these groups through a trust-based courier system or individual methods, and that content encouraging drug use was shared. It was revealed that entry to closed groups was only possible through special invitations or references, and that sellers frequently changed their usernames while hiding their phone numbers and identity information to avoid being identified. It was determined that the networks traded drugs 24 hours a day, regardless of day or night, depending on population density and demand.
SIMULTANEOUS OPERATIONS IN 14 PROVINCES
As a result of joint efforts with the Cyber Crimes Division, suspects acting as administrators and moderators in closed groups and channels were identified. When it was determined that these individuals were also actively trading drugs through different groups, simultaneous operations were conducted in Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, Antalya, Konya, Sakarya, Tekirdağ, Hatay, Mardin, Adıyaman, Giresun, Kastamonu, and Muş, centered in Istanbul.
"THIS IS NOT ONLY TURKEY'S FIGHT, BUT HUMANITY'S FIGHT"
In a statement regarding the operation, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya emphasized that the fight against drugs is not just a matter of internal security. Yerlikaya stated, "We have declared an all-out war on drugs. We are continuing this fight not only on behalf of our country but on behalf of humanity." Minister Yerlikaya congratulated the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the police organization, and all police officers involved in the operation.