In operation with Greece, opiate pills linked with PKK seized

NARCOTICS agents from Turkey and Greece undertook a joint operation at the Greek port of Piraeus in Athens, seizing 4.5 million opiate pills hidden in lead pipes in a container coming from Syria through the medium of the PKK’s Syrian affiliate, the People’s Protection Units (YPG).

and Greek anti-narcotics squads seized some 4.5 million opiate pills, which are believed to have links with the PKK terrorist organization, in a joint operation at the Greek port of Piraeus in the capital Athens, Turkish police sources told Anadolu Agency (AA) on Friday.

Turkish anti-narcotics police had received a tip-off about the existence of a “large amount” of drugs in a container arriving from Syria, security sources said earlier. A special team was sent to Greece to share the information with Greek police. An operation was later carried out on Jan. 7 and police discovered the drugs, which were hidden in lead pipes in the container.

Greek police confirmed that there were 4.5 million pills weighing 750 kilograms.

The shipment was believed to have been organized by the PKK’s Syria affiliate, the People’s Protection Units (YPG).

Greek and Turkish police are now on the lookout for suspects. In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK - listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU - has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women and children. The PKK is accused of smuggling drugs to and from Europe as well as the cultivation of cannabis in southeastern Turkey as a way to fund its illegal activities.

Last November, Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said that the PKK terrorist group controls 80 percent of the drug trade in Europe, making up to $1.5 billion per year. Speaking at a meeting on the fight against drug addiction in southern Adana province, Soylu said terrorist organizations are using drug money to buy weapons.

Turkish police are experienced at dealing with international drug trafficking, as the country lies on a transit route for drug smuggling between Asia and Europe. Turkey is also fighting a rising case of drug use, especially among youth and has stepped up narcotics efforts in recent years.

The Interior Ministry recently announced that security forces carried out more than 134,000 narcotics operations in 2018 and captured nearly 80 tons of cannabis, 19.6 million Captagon pills and 7.8 million ecstasy pills, along with more than 15.9 tons of heroin.