Turkish authorities have detained 179 suspects in a nationwide crackdown on illegal and counterfeit alcohol production and sales, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced Thursday via a statement on social media platform X.
Yerlikaya said coordinated operations were carried out across all 81 provinces on Wednesday, targeting illegal alcohol networks responsible for manufacturing and distributing counterfeit beverages throughout the country.
The raids led to the seizure of 30,836 bottles of fake alcoholic drinks, 16,888 litres of ethanol, and 4,564 litres of counterfeit alcohol, alongside the discovery of 13 illegal production facilities.
He confirmed that all 179 suspects are facing legal proceedings, reaffirming the government’s ongoing commitment to combating organised crime and protecting public health from the dangers of illicit alcohol.
The minister also urged citizens to avoid purchasing alcohol from unauthorised vendors, warning that counterfeit products posed severe health risks and had caused multiple fatalities, particularly during festive periods. (Xinhua/NAN)
