Muhuannad Aloqlah, a drug lord who was wanted on an INTERPOL Red Notice, has been captured in a raid in İstanbul, according to Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.
Yerlikaya, who has announced the capture of several international criminals in Turkey since taking office in early June, on Wednesday said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that another drug lord sought on an INTERPOL Red Notice was captured in Esenler.
According to the minister, Aloqlah was apprehended through the collaborative efforts of the İstanbul narcotics, intelligence, migrant smuggling and border gate branch directorates in “Operation Cage-19.”
“I would like our people to know that our determination and resolve in the fight against drug traffickers, terrorist organizations, human traffickers and organized crime groups, who seek to poison our future, will continue,” the minister added.
🟥İnterpol Kırmızı Bülten’le aranan Uyuşturucu Madde Finansörü ve Organize Suç Örgütü üyesi Muhuannad ALOQLAH İstanbul’da yapılan “KAFES-19” Operasyonuyla yakalandı❗️
Milletimizin bilmesini isterim ki;
Geleceğimizi zehirlemeye çalışan uyuşturucu tacirleriyle, terör… pic.twitter.com/r70fPuuOCu— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) December 13, 2023
During the time in office of Yerlikaya’s predecessor, Süleyman Soylu, Turkey faced allegations of involvement in international drug trafficking, primarily driven by Turkish mob boss Sedat Peker. In a series of dramatic videos in 2021, Peker accused Soylu and other high-ranking officials of protecting and facilitating cocaine trafficking networks.
Soylu’s departure from the ministry had brought his alleged involvement in international drug trafficking and ties to mafia groups into the spotlight, leading to significant changes in the Turkish police force and crackdowns on international drug rings.
Soylu was appointed interior minister shortly after a coup attempt in Turkey in July 2016. He was the architect of a massive purge and arrest of thousands of non-loyalist citizens on bogus terrorism or coup charges.
He was elected to parliament in the May general election as a ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) lawmaker and enjoys parliamentary immunity.