ISTANBUL - Turkish police seized 153 kilograms 800 grams of heroin in two separate operations, Istanbul Police Chief Celalettin Cerrah said on Monday.
Cerrah told reporters that 46 kilograms 800 grams of heroin were confiscated in an operation staged in Bahcelievler district of Istanbul in coordination between police departments in Istanbul and southern Mersin province.
Police detained three people who were loading the heroin on a truck, Cerrah said.
Cerrah noted that police seized 107 kilograms of heroin in the trunk of a vehicle in another operation in Kadikoy district of Istanbul.
Cerrah pointed out that police took into custody four people in this second operation.
Sources said that heroin confiscated in the last operation was brought from Afghanistan and Iran to Turkey via Yuksekova town of southern Hakkari province.
The sources noted that the heroin was about to be sent from Istanbul to European countries.
(BRC-AÖ) 15.03.2004