In Turkey, the third largest batch of cocaine in the country's history was seized

 Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said police seized the third-largest cocaine shipment in the country's history.

According to the minister, about 608 kilograms of cocaine, mostly in liquid form, were confiscated during the operation in three provinces. In addition, almost 830 kilograms of chemicals used for the production of the drug were seized.

"The amount of cocaine seized during the operation was the third largest cocaine shipment ever seized in Turkey," the minister said.

Yerlikaya noted that the police operation was directed against an international gang, probably led by a person with Lebanese-Venezuelan citizenship. He was detained together with three foreigners, members of an "organized criminal group", as well as nine Turks.

According to the minister, the gang used vineyards in Tekirdag and Antalya to store chemicals and process cocaine, which was disguised as fertilizer.

Organized crime monitoring groups note that Turkey is becoming a transit hub for transporting cocaine from South America to Europe.