ISTANBUL, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Turkish customs authorities seized massive quantities of smuggled pharmaceuticals and methamphetamine in a series of major border operations, the country's Ministry of Trade announced Saturday.
In the southern port city of Mersin, customs enforcement teams intercepted a suspicious container. A detailed inspection uncovered more than 9 tonnes of undeclared pharmaceuticals, the ministry said in a statement.
Following further field investigations in Mersin, authorities seized an additional 3 tonnes of smuggled pharmaceuticals.
Separately, at the Gurbulak Customs Gate in the far eastern part of Türkiye, risk analysis systems flagged a truck. After an X-ray scan detected suspicious density, teams using narcotics detection dogs discovered 273 kg of methamphetamine concealed inside the vehicle.
According to the ministry, the operations were part of Türkiye's broader efforts to combat drug trafficking, prevent money laundering and terrorism financing, and disrupt the financial resources of organized criminal networks. ■
