Police in Van, a province in eastern Türkiye, seized 4.6 tons of powdered cannabis and arrested a foreign national in an anti-drug operation on Friday.

The operation, dubbed Narkogüç-38, was part of a nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking and organized crime that spanned 45 provinces, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.

Yerlikaya said in a social media post that the fight against drug dealers and organized crime organizations that poison the public will continue with determination. "We will not tolerate poison dealers. We are always behind them," he wrote.

He added that the operation was carried out jointly by the Van Anti-Narcotic Crimes Branch Directorate and the 6th Border Command, which are responsible for securing the border with Iran.

The foreign suspect, whose nationality was not disclosed, was taken into custody for questioning. (ILKHA)