13.01.2026 14:05
According to the Istanbul Governorship's data for 2023-2025, it was stated that operations, arrests, and detentions related to drug production and trafficking have significantly increased. While inspections around school areas have increased, there was a 154% increase in the number of mothers informed under the "The best narcotic police is a mother" initiative.
According to the data shared by the Istanbul Governorship, the number of operations targeting drug production and trafficking under Article 188 of the Turkish Penal Code was 7,837 in 2023, rising to 10,296 in 2024 and 11,316 in 2025. The increase rate in the number of operations over the two-year period was recorded as 44 percent.
NOTICEABLE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ARRESTED AND DETAINED INDIVIDUALS
During the same period, the number of suspects caught was 12,554 in 2023, increasing to 16,819 in 2024 and 18,385 in 2025. The increase rate in the number of individuals caught was 46 percent. The number of detained suspects was reported as 5,577 in 2023, 8,054 in 2024, and 9,115 in 2025. The increase in the number of detentions reached 63 percent. The number of individuals subjected to judicial control was 2,666 in 2023, rising to 5,167 in 2025, showing a 94 percent increase.
STRIKING CHANGE IN THE QUANTITIES OF SEIZED DRUGS
The total tonnage of seized drugs was recorded as 18.62 tons in 2023, 24.92 tons in 2024, and decreased to 16.69 tons in 2025. Thus, there was a 10 percent decrease in the total amount of drugs during the 2023-2025 period. In contrast, the number of seized drug pills increased from 19,356,715 in 2023 to 79,304,699 in 2025. The increase rate in this area was 310 percent. The number of seized cannabis plants increased from 8,060 in 2023 to 27,377 in 2025, showing a 240 percent increase.
THE NUMBER OF "BEST NARCOTIC POLICE MOTHER" INCREASED BY 154 PERCENT
There was also an increase in the awareness activities conducted in the fight against drug and substance addiction. Within the scope of the "Best Narcotic Police Mother" project, the number of mothers informed was 258,267 in 2023, rising to 526,311 in 2024 and 656,455 in 2025. The increase in the number of informed mothers over the three-year period was reported as 154 percent.
INSPECTIONS AROUND SCHOOLS HAVE INTENSIFIED
Inspections around schools have also increased. The number of inspections, which was 91,454 in 2023, rose to 108,681 in 2024 and 109,619 in 2025. The data revealed that security measures against drug trafficking, especially in educational environments, have been strengthened.