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Turkish anti-narcotics efforts continue to focus primarily on halting illicit narcotics from Southwest Asia crossing it eastern borders and flowing through Turkey to Europe and North America. Seizures are up significantly this year, suggesting a possible increase in the overall volume entering Turkey from the East. In addition to the seizure figures shown below, Turkish National Police actions have been instrumental in assisting European countries to make additional large seizures..
Seizures:
Heroin
Jan-June 1987
279 kg
Morphine Base
29 kg
Opium Gum
11 kg
Acetic Anhydride
709 kg
Hashish
1066 kg
Cocaine
51 9
628
Arrests:
(*)
(*) Arrest figures do not include the Jandarma.
Turkey has been fortunate in the past in having a minimal domestic drug abuse problem, but there are increasing signs that the problem is expanding. There is concern in particular that drug abuse among the growing number of Iranians residing in Turkey is spilling over into the Turkish community. We are seeing the first signs of awareness of a potential problem and planning for the cautious introduction of drug abuse education in schools.