4 Foreign Nationals Found Carrying 117 Pieces of Methamphetamine Weighing 1.4 kg in Their Stomachs in Tatvan, Bitlis

In the Tatvan district of Bitlis, police teams conducted a detailed search of 4 foreign nationals showing suspicious behavior on a bus; according to reporting by Cumhuriyet Gazette, X-ray and CT scan examinations revealed that the 4 individuals were carrying methamphetamine in 117 pieces hidden in their stomachs and intestines.

The total amount of seized drugs was announced as 1 kilogram and 392 grams. The 4 detainees were arrested in court following police procedures.

Tatvan is located on the East Anatolia route, which stands out as a transit corridor for drug smuggling due to its proximity to the Iranian border. The method of concealing drugs inside the body — a technique known as 'body packing' in drug smuggling — had been the subject of prior arrests on the same route; however, the seizure of this quantity in a single operation is a rare occurrence in the region.