Pubdate: Fri, 12 Feb 1999
Source: Reuters
Copyright: 1999 Reuters Limited.

TURKEY SEIZED $79 MILLION WORTH OF DRUGS IN 1998

ISTANBUL, - Drugs worth $79 million were seized at
Turkish  border posts last year, customs officials said on Friday.

Anatolian news agency reported that the officials had found 586 kg
heroin,  171 kg morphine and 602 kg cocaine, as well as small amounts
of marijuana and  pills in 1998.

The figure did not include drugs discovered by security officials
within  the country.

Turkey is on the so-called Balkans route for drug trafficking from
Afghanistan and Pakistan into Europe, and has faced allegations that
some officials are involved in the lucrative trade.
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