Turkey: 4 tons of marijuana, 236K cannabis roots seized

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey

Turkish security forces have seized a huge quantity of illegal drugs in an anti-narcotics operation in southeastern Diyarbakir province.

According to a statement by the provincial gendarmerie command on Wednesday, security personnel raided multiple locations and confiscated over four tons of marijuana, and 236,000 cannabis roots.

A crackdown on drugs has helped Turkey deal with narcoterrorism -- terrorism financed by profits from illegal drug trafficking, which is one of the main sources of funding for terrorist organizations such as the PKK.

Over 42.5 tons of marijuana and 97 million cannabis roots have been seized in the country since Jan. 1, 2020.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.

*Writing by Ali Murat Alhas