Major drug bust at customs gates

Quick summary

Customs Protection teams seized a total of 659 kilograms of narcotics in 6 operations conducted over the past week at Gürbulak, Kapıkule, Kapıköy, İpsala and Istanbul Airport. Operations were concentrated at critical crossing points on the Iran and Bulgaria borders, and such inspections will continue at regular intervals.

Why it matters

Increasing operations against drug smuggling directly impact border security and domestic market security. Intensified inspections can cause disruptions to operational flows that may affect transportation and logistics costs.

Key takeaways

• ›Turkish customs enforcement teams seized 659 kg of drugs across six operations in one week.
• ›Raids targeted four major land border crossings — Gürbulak, Kapıkule, Kapıköy, and İpsala — as well as Istanbul Airport.
• ›The Ministry of Trade says intensive inspections at key entry points are ongoing to curb drug smuggling.