An illegal drug shipment containing 394 kg of methamphetamine was discovered at the Turkish Gurbulak customs on the border with Iran. The value of the seized drugs is estimated at 1 billion and 179 million Turkish liras (nearly 24 million euros), reported the Turkish state television TRT Haber, which referred to a statement from the Ministry of Trade, BTA reports.
The drugs were discovered during an operation by the Turkish authorities within the framework of the risk analysis and targeted surveys system, which is applied at Turkish border crossings.
A truck that arrived at the Turkish Gurbulak customs from Iran was subjected to an X-ray inspection of the vehicle. The inspection showed the presence of suspicious cargo. Based on the data, anti-drug trafficking teams undertook an additional thorough search of the cargo hold, as a result of which 394 kg of methamphetamine were discovered, hidden among the goods legally registered in the consignment note. The value of the seized drugs is around 1.179 billion Turkish liras.
The truck driver was arrested and the drugs seized during the operation were destroyed.
The Doğu Beyazıt District Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation.
A statement from the Turkish Ministry of Trade on the case states that "the fight against drug trafficking, which threatens public health and national security, continues most actively through advanced analysis systems and the principle of "zero tolerance".
Gürbulak is the main and most important border crossing point of the three border crossing points between Turkey and Iran. It was opened in 1937 by Atatürk and has served as a link between the East and the West through Turkey since then.