TRNC narcotics seized record number of drugs in 2023

A total of 122 kilograms of narcotics were seized in 2022 but that number has since doubled in 2023.

According to report by local daily, Yeniduzen, this figure has more than doubled to a total of 265.8 kilograms in the first eight months of 2023.

Data shared by the Narcotics and Smuggling Prevention Directorate with Yeniduzen, shows that in the past eight months, the majority of drugs seized was cannabis totalling 264 kilograms. It was noted that 241 kilograms of this drug had been washed up on the beaches. This figure was 46 kilograms in 2022.

Additionally,, during the first eight months of 2023, 875 illegal pills containing narcotics and 39 cannabis plants were seized. Cocaine was the next drug weighing a total of 1.8 kilograms. Synthetic cannabinoids (bonzai) came in third with 813.5 grams. Following which were 250.8 grams of MDMA (Ecstasy), 37.3 grams of amphetamine, 35.6 grams of methamphetamine, and 31.5 grams of heroin were seized.

In 2022, 3.5 kilograms of methamphetamine (crystal meth), one of the drugs most harmful to health, was seized. However, in 2023, the quantity decreased significantly to 35.6 grams as a result of drug prevention agency operations.

Furthermore, the quantity of heroin seized in 2022 was approximately 1 kilogram, but in 2023, due to rigorous narcotics prevention operations, this figure dropped significantly to 31.2 grams.