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Large quantities of illegal drugs enter Türkiye each year through multiple routes, with the country now serving not only as a transit corridor but also as a market and production hub, according to a new national drug report.
Recent Istanbul-centered operations targeting journalists and public figures, along with nationwide security raids, have pushed drug-related crime to the forefront of the public agenda in Türkiye.
According to the 2025 Drug Report by the General Directorate of Security Narcotics Crimes Department, Türkiye plays a triple role in global drug trafficking: production, transit and target market.
The report said cocaine enters Türkiye from South America via ports such as Istanbul and Mersin, while methamphetamine is smuggled mainly through the Iran and Iraq borders.
Heroin continues to originate primarily from Afghanistan.
Security forces seized 1.34 tons of drugs and more than 178,000 drug pills in nationwide gendarmerie operations over the past two weeks, detaining 424 suspects, 162 of whom were arrested.
The report said trafficking of synthetic drugs, methamphetamine and cocaine increased significantly in 2024.
Methamphetamine seizures rose to nearly 34 tons, marking a 54% increase, while cocaine seizures rose 23.2% to just over 3 tons.
Authorities identified methamphetamine conversion centers and production attempts, particularly in Istanbul, signaling Türkiye’s emergence as a production center.
Liquid methamphetamine was found to enter the country illegally via Iran and Iraq, while Mexico-sourced shipments used Türkiye as a partial transit route, including through Istanbul Airport.
Synthetic pharmaceutical drugs saw the sharpest increase, with 94.7 million tablets seized in 2024, a 227% rise. These included illicit versions of prescription drugs containing pregabalin.
Cocaine trafficking increasingly relies on Turkish ports as alternative routes to Europe, with Istanbul and Mersin recording the highest number of seizures.
Authorities also reported the use of chemical impregnation methods, uncovering nearly 1 ton of cocaine hidden in legal cargo in Istanbul and Antalya.
Heroin seizures rose 31% to 4.3 tons in 2024, with the Balkan route, passing through Iran and Türkiye, remaining the most heavily used corridor for Afghan-sourced heroin.
Captagon trafficking also increased, with nearly 16 million tablets seized in 2024. Most seizures occurred near the Syrian border, particularly in Hatay and Gaziantep.
Tablet production facilities were also discovered in Hatay and Kilis in recent years, linked to instability in Syria and shifting trafficking patterns.
Drug-related deaths rose 42.3% in 2024, reaching 427 fatalities.
Synthetic cannabinoids, methamphetamine and ecstasy were the most common substances involved. Six of the deaths were among minors aged 15 to 18.
Authorities recorded 375,000 drug-related suspects in 2024, a 20% increase from the previous year. Of those, 293,000 were linked to drug use and 77,000 to trafficking.
Courts convicted more than 116,000 people on drug charges, including over 34,000 for drug trafficking offenses.
The report also showed rising treatment demand, with nearly 391,000 outpatient treatment applications in 2024 and over 10,700 inpatient admissions, reflecting the growing scale of drug use across the country.
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