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15,414 kilograms of marijuana, 67 million cannabis destroyed in anti-PKK operations

A total of 15,414 kilograms of marijuana and 67 million roots of cannabis were seized and destroyed in a military operation on the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the southeastern Diyarbakır province, while 14 PKK members were killed, the General Staff said in a statement on Tuesday.

According to the statement, the operation that kicked off on June 22 and targeted PKK members in the Diyarbakır districts of Lice, Hazro and Kocaköy has been finalized. Upon an order from the Prime Minister’s Office, the operation aimed at dealing blow to the drug trafficking by the PKK as one of its main financial resources, the statement said.

The operation was carried out by 7,500 members of the security forces and resulted in the detention of 305 people, 43 of which were later put under arrest on court order. Searches during the operation turned up 17 Kalashnikov rifles, an M-16 rifle, a Bixi machine gun, three rocket launchers, six handguns, seven shotguns, nine hand grenades and 1,786 pieces of ammunition. In addition, 20 tons of bomb material and 64 handmade explosives were confiscated and destroyed. A total of 43 shelters and caves used by the PKK were also destroyed.

Security forces confiscated 22 vehicles, which had been stolen from various districts and meant to be used in bomb attacks.

Five military personnel were killed in the operation, while seven others were injured.

The statement noted that the PKK sells cannabis it produces in the Southeast mainly to teenagers especially in İstanbul and also exports it abroad.

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