DRAFT COUNTRY PROFILE 2002

REPUBLIC OF  TURKEY

1998-1999-2000

I – GENERAL OVERVIEW

Illegal drugs are not only resulting in negative consequences in relations between the person and society and in creating serious problems with respect to both social relations of the person and their intellectual and physical structure but at the same time are restricting their freedom and turn the people into a slave to the drugs. Drug phenomenon dates back to the beginning of history. Drugs have varied depending on different geographical and climatic conditions. It has emerged as coca plant in the American continent and as cannabis in Africa and the other regions of the world. Meanwhile, as a result of the technological developments, they have also taken their place in the world’s drugs market in the form of synthetic drugs (e.g. ecstasy, captagon etc.).

Certain factors play a role in the prevalence of such substances still in the today’s world as it was in the past. Increase in the number of addicts, high profit margin, terrorist activities and the changes in the political structure of the world have significantly influenced drug production and the smuggling routes.

There is a direct proportion between the intensive struggle of the law enforcement units in a country against the use of drugs and the increase and decrease in the number of addicts in that specific country; thus decrease in drug abusing would result in a decrease in the quantity of drugs imported to the country. Even if the drug organizations are dismantled, in case there is still a demand for drugs, such dismantled organizations will be replaced with the new ones, which are seeking for the proceeds of drugs, in the shortest extent.

Drug prices vary significantly from the source areas through the consumption markets. The high profit potential of drugs from their production to their use is an attraction point for such organizations. Such circumstances also fuel the fire for the drug trafficking activities as well.

Increasing terrorist activities in the world leads to the fact that the terrorist organizations are taking their share from the proceeds of the production, transportation and distribution of drugs to finance their activities. It is known fact that certain terrorist organizations pursue such kind of activities preferring the countries, which are producing drugs and where political instabilities prevail, as their area of activity.

Drug trafficking, which has developed on the basis of these aspects, nearly influence all the countries of the world. Although there is an illicit flow from the cultivation areas to consumption markets, there is also an alternative flow of precursor chemicals from the western countries those are utilizing an advanced technology to the illegal drug production centers.

The globalization movements in the world and the transformation of borders into a virtual line only, result in drug trafficking being not only the problem of a single country but its being a regional, international and a transcontinental crime. This situation in general underlines the fact that the source, transit and the consumer countries should equally struggle against illegal drug trafficking.

In the light of this fact, Turkey aims at totally eradicating the activities of such organizations by basing her activities on the following principles;

·         Conducting proactive and operational projects,

·         Conducting rapid, simultaneous operations,

·         Identifying the structures of the organizations,

·         Following the financial movements,

·         Using new police techniques and tactics,

·         Carrying out crime analysis and synthesis,

·         Exchanging the data to be obtained with the national and international anti-drug agencies.

Turkey’s geographical location verifies her intensive struggle against drugs.

Turkey is at a location where there are the heroin consumption areas in the west, heroin source countries in the east; and meanwhile with respect to the synthetic drugs and the precursor chemicals, there is an intensive flow from the EU countries to the alternative consumption areas at the east.

When the main lines of illegal drug trafficking between Europe and Asia are examined, it is understood that this traffic does not have a single route but actually demonstrates shifts on the basis of social, political and economic impacts arising from the countries on the route. Efficient struggle of the law enforcement units plays an important role in these shifts as well.

There are three main routes of drugs on the geography where Turkey is also located.

The Balkan Route starts from Southwest Asia, the poppy cultivation areas, passes through the territories of Iran and Turkey and then divides into two main arms over the Balkan Peninsula. The first arm (Northern Road); reaches to the European countries over Bulgaria-Romania-Hungary-Austria. Whereas the second arm (Southern Road) reaches to Italy through the sea, over Turkey and Greece.

The opiates are trafficked from the east to the west and the precursor chemicals and synthetic drugs are alternatively trafficked from the west to the east, over the Balkan route and thus Turkey is subject to a two-way flow.

The Northern Black Sea Route has two separate arms. The first route (Northern Branch) starts from Afghanistan, passes through the Central Asian Republics and reaches to the Western European markets over Russia, Ukraine, Bella Russia and Poland. Whereas the second route (Southern Branch), starts again from Afghanistan, goes through Iran and then directs to the north and passes from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia and Russia, and finally reaches to the Western Europe.

Although the Balkan Route is still used extensively, the Northern Black Sea Route is used more frequently by the traffickers due to the effective struggle of Turkish Law Enforcement Forces against the drug trafficking organizations, developments in the Central Asia after the collapse of USSR in the 90’s and the restructuring problems of the law enforcement units in those countries. 

The seizures also point to the increasing smuggling attempts in the Central Asian Republics and throughout the Northern Black Sea Route. The following heroin seizures were realized in the year 2001: 979 kg. in the Russian Federation, 4239 kg. in Tajikistan, 71 kg. in Turkmenistan, 466 kg. in Uzbekistan, 137 kg. in Kazakhstan  and 184 kg. in Kyrgyzstan.

Furthermore, the increase in drug trafficking at the Northern Black Sea Route has also been reflected to the reports of many countries and the international institutions and agencies.

Eastern Mediterranean Route starts from the ports of Pakistan and reaches to the Western Europe markets over the Indian Ocean, Red Sea and Suez Canal.

Drug trafficking organizations continuously seek to develop new methods and strategies. As it is in the Central Asia, the changes at the Eastern Europe have affected the strategies of these organizations. The current developments provided a fertile ground in the Eastern Europe for the drug trafficking organizations seeking for new routes. Therefore the organizations, by taking this advantage, implement the double step method to avoid the risk of being intercepted by the law enforcement forces and to be closer to the consumption sites. With this method, the illegal drug organizations initially store the drugs at the areas deemed to be secure for them, and then are ship such drugs to the Western Europe in batches, after the convenient time and conditions prevail.

Turkish National Police Service attaches importance to operational projects, international cooperation, controlled delivery practices and training in the struggle against drugs trafficking. It continues its activities by basing the struggling efforts on these principles.

A- OPERATIONAL PROJECTS

Turkish law enforcement units have realized some joint operations based on updated information/intelligence exchange with the colleagues in the other countries for the purpose of efficiently struggling against the international drug organizations. Such joint operations target the control mechanisms of the organizations, criminal profits/properties and sources of the drugs. Under the framework of this fruitful cooperation, the following operational projects were realized in the 2001-2002 period.

The following operations were realized in cooperation with the foreign countries: 

·         Operation THUNDERBOLT with Italy, Germany, Belgium and the UK

·         Operation SYMPHONY with Austria and the US

·         Operation BALKAN with Germany

·         Operation BLACK TULIP with the Netherlands

·         Operation NORTH with Sweden

·         Operation FLATBED with the UK

·         Operation MATADOR and IRON BIRD with Spain, Netherlands and Portugal

·         Operation TROY and ISKENDER with Macedonia

·         Operation SLEEPER with Bulgaria, Macedonia, Hungary and Italy

·         Operation SUITCASE with Germany and Belgium

·         Operation CHEST with Netherlands, Germany and Belgium

·         Operation TRANSPASİFIC with the US

·         Operation VARDAR with the US

·         Operation BOSPHORUS with Bulgaria

·         Operation GEZGİN 1 and GEZGİN 2 with Spain

·         Operation MATRUŞKA with Russia and the US

·         Operation BİRLİK-1 with the UK

·         Operation ŞOK with the UK.

The following operations were realized domestically: 

·         Operation KOLİ with İstanbul Directorate of Security

·         Operation NERGİZ with the Directorates of Security of Aksaray-Mersin

·         Operation AFGAN with İzmir Directorate of Security

·         Operation YAKUT with İstanbul Directorate of Security

·         Operation EGE with Bursa Directorate of Security

·         Operation KARADENİZ with Directorates of Security of Ankara-İstanbul

·         Operation KAPAN with Directorates of Security of Ankara-İstanbul

·         Operation AKREP with Directorate of Security of İstanbul

·         Operation KISKAÇ with Directorates of Security of Van-İstanbul

·         Operation SACAYAĞI I-II-III with Directorate of Security of İstanbul

·         Operation IŞILDAK with Directorate of Security of İstanbul.

Operations performed under the names Asena and Gezgin can be given as an example for the operational projects.

1- Project Asena-Anadolu

Taking into account the important role of Balkan Route in drug smuggling to the European countries over Turkey and intensive activities of drug trafficking organizations in Germany and Netherlands, the Asena Project of Turkey and the Anadolu Project of Germany had been initiated in the year 1995 to work in collaboration, with the aim of enhancing the already existing mutual cooperation between the two countries. Furthermore, several projects under different titles have been initiated in Netherlands and Belgium in this process.

Under the scope of the Project, major drug families and organizations were taken under investigation for the purpose of identifying the operating structure, discovering the activities and in this way dismantling such organizations. Significant steps were taken during the works jointly conducted thanks to the mutual exchange of information.

The researches have revealed the fact that the families are getting monopolized, becoming professionals in the field of drugs and their structures are getting more systematical. According to the intelligence analyses, the drug organizations acting in Germany today are in general comprised of Turkish citizens born in the eastern provinces.

Under the framework of the Project Anadolu, a significant database has been created regarding the activities of the drug trafficking organizations. This information plays an important role in terms of defining the structuring of the families and the role of their members in the hierarchical structure and this in its turn, allows the project to shed a light upon the investigations and operations against these organizations.

Under the scope of the Project Anadolu; 219 kg of heroin, 10 kg of additives, 301 gr of cocaine and high amount of money derived from drugs were seized in Germany. A total of 107 people were apprehended during these operations. Implementation of the project in Germany was ceased in the second half of 1998.

Under the framework of the Project Anadolu, an efficient and fruitful cooperation process has been experienced between the Department of Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime and BKA of Germany. As a result of the Project Asena in Turkey, conducted in parallel to the Project Anadolu, international operations named Baybaşin, Big Tree and Suitcase were realized. In these operations 861 kg of heroin were seized and many individuals including the senior members of the organizations acting between Turkey and Germany were apprehended. This project has been completed in parallel to the Project Anadolu.

However, planned operations under different names are still being conducted against acting organizations, which were under the scope of the projects Anadolu and Asena.

2- Operations Gezgin 1 and Gezgin 2

An organization consigning drugs to the European countries, Spain in particular, as concealed in suitcases was identified as a result of the seizures on the couriers at the airports of several European countries and Turkey.

            Upon this identification, Department of Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime started a project work under the name of GEZGİN in July 2002, with the involvement of İstanbul Narcotics Division and the Law Enforcement Units of Spain, for the purpose of revealing and dismantling the organization.

            The efforts of the project group resulted in the establishment of the connections of organization in Spain and Turkey, also the members, the couriers used by the organization and the leaders of the organization. Successively the activities of the organization were taken under control.

Following the identification of the activity areas and the working mechanism of the organization, the operations were initiated in September. After it was determined that the couriers would be going abroad from İstanbul Atatürk Airport with drug concealed suitcases, 5 kg of heroin was seized and two couriers one being a Dutch national were apprehended in the operation conducted jointly by the teams of the Department of Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime and İstanbul Narcotics Division.

During the further investigations, the residence of the individual delivering the heroin concealed suitcases to the couriers was searched and 5 kg of heroin and 2 more suitcases with special concealment were seized. All the connections of the organization were revealed and the necessary initiatives and efforts were started at an international level so as to apprehend the members of the organization in abroad.

Upon the activities carried out under the scope of this operation, Operation Gezgin-2 was realized in September and as a result of this operation, 2 kg. 860 grams of heroin was seized in the suitcase of a foreign national female attempting to go to Italy from İstanbul Atatürk Airport. Furthermore 4 foreign national individuals involved in the organization were apprehended too.

The following common characteristics have been identified regarding the couriers used in both of the attempts;

-                     Being between the age of 18-30,

-                     Not having any problem during the border controls,

-                     Having full and complete documents,

-                     Having only one baggage,

-                     Short trip to Turkey,

-                     Being aware of what they are doing but not having detailed information about the drugs they are carrying,

-                     That they only take the drugs and know the individuals whom they will deliver the drugs,

-                     Carrying 1-5 kg. of drugs,

-                     Carrying suitcases specially designed for concealment,

-                     Preferring airway as the transportation mean.

As a result of the operations conducted under the project, 1.571 kg of heroin, 21,5 tons of hashish, 600 kg of morphine base, 2810 kg of opium gum, 16, 250 liters of acetic anhydride and 877 Captagon pills were seized and 102 individuals were apprehended including the leaders playing a key role in consigning drugs from Turkey to Europe.

B- CONTROLLED DELIVERY

Turkish National Police Service efficiently realizes national and international controlled deliveries to identifying the final destination of the drugs and the members of the trafficking organization and in this way entirely dismantling the organization. A total of 53 controlled deliveries were conducted up to date under the coordination of the Department of Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime. 34 of these controlled deliveries were conducted with the US, Germany, Romania, Italy, UK, Greece, Russia, Macedonia and Canada and 19 domestically.

C- TRAINING

Tools of technology and training are the main pillars of the struggle against international drug trafficking. Turkish National Police has taken new training initiatives with the importance of personnel training in mind with respect to drugs and organized crimes.

The most important of these initiatives is the establishment of Turkish International Academy Against Drugs and Organized Crime (TADOC).

Narcotics Division, actually working in the field, shares the experience acquired at the national and international operations with TADOC and also intensively cooperates with TADOC for the purpose of defining the fields of necessary training topics for a more efficient struggle and recovery of the identified deficiencies. 

The modifications in the modus operandies of the drug trafficking organizations in parallel to the interdiction efforts of Interim Government of Afghanistan and International Bodies after the operation “Enduring Freedom” could be best seen in the upcoming days. On the other hand, it is also likely that the organizations, depending on the struggling efforts, may seek for new production sites or other drugs that may replace opiates. Depending on the emerging and changing conditions new anti-drug policies should be implemented attaching importance to the International cooperation. International cooperation will be the main motivator of success in this field.

D- INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION:

Turkey, as a country possessing a key geographical location lying from Central Asia to the Balkans, supports all kinds of initiative aiming at promoting international cooperation against transnational crimes. Our country, which shares its experience in the field of struggle against organized crime with all the countries that demand so, furthers its cooperation with the other countries in the struggle and strengthens its current relations with relevant international institutions.

1. International Organizations 

Turkey actively participate relevant regional and international organizations’ activities to deal with transnational crimes more effectively.

Some of these organizations, which are involved in the global struggle against transborder crimes, are listed below:

2. Security Cooperation Texts

It is widely known that, apart from the international conventions related to the struggle, the security cooperation texts, which lead the cooperation activities of the countries against crime, form a legal basis. Turkey, being a party to the 1961, 1971 and 1988 UN Conventions on illicit trafficking and supply of drugs and psychotropic substances, has already signed documents on security cooperation with 61 countries.

3. Liaison Officers

Liaison officers play an important role on maintaining the international cooperation among the countries. This method is one of the effective responses to the threat of transborder crimes. In the field of police cooperation, which requires secrecy and speed, a liaison officer has a significant position. 

In the framework of the security cooperation texts signed by Turkey, liaison officers are appointed among the officers working in the Turkish National Police. There are also some foreign liaison officers working in Turkey who are appointed by their countries.

4. Organized/Participated Seminars and Meetings in 2002

Within the framework of promoting international cooperation, a lot of meetings and conferences were organized in participation with national and international institutions together with foreign countries in the year 2002, with the contribution and under the coordination of our Department, as so organized in the previous years.

Furthermore, our Department, which carries out its activities as regards arrangement of the national and international legal framework for struggling against organized crime, has performed informative activities all throughout the year so as to ensure relevant national authorities to fully understand and activate the legislation on struggle.

Through these efforts, our Department aims at taking the most appropriate measures against such crimes by means of providing the struggling units with a dynamic approach on the new methods of organized criminal groups.

The most significant meetings and seminars took place in 2002 under coordination and with contribution of our Department are as follows:

a) Southwest Asian Heroin Strategy Conference         

“Southwest Asian Heroin Strategy Conference” was organized in Ankara between February 5-6, 2002 by the Turkish National Police and the US Drug Enforcement Agency.

 The conference, which was realized in participation with 25 countries, is extremely important in terms of prevention of illicit trafficking in opiates from Afghanistan and in terms of enabling the representatives of relevant countries to have assessments and make remarks on the situation of the countries affected from the smuggling and the possible efficient measures to be taken.

In the course of the conference, the position of Central Asia, which is one of the routes of Afghani heroin to Europe and which is more commonly used as a transit route by the criminal organizations involved in illicit drug trafficking has been discussed under a separate title. At the conference, where various information were given by the participants on struggle against drug smuggling, the answer to the question how to increase efficiency of the struggle within the region was also discussed. Detailed information about the conference was given in the Narcotics Part.

b) SECI Center 13th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) Meeting

The 13th Joint Cooperation Committee Meeting of SECI Regional Center For Combating Transborder Crime, an international institution established with the aim of enlarging the cooperation between law enforcement agencies in the Southeastern Europe that struggle against drug smuggling, terrorism and other types of transnational crimes, took place in Istanbul between August 08-09, 2002 under the coordination of our Department. 

More than 40 representatives from SECI member and permanent observer countries and relevant international institutions were present at the meeting. During the meeting, the importance of coordinated and efficient struggle against organized criminal groups was mentioned. It was also emphasized that the SECI Center, which have assumed an operational role from the very beginning of its establishment and have had motivating results in terms of struggling against organized crime, was a regional model institution in this regard.

The new Management of the SECI Center was determined at the 15th meeting of Joint Cooperation Committee in 2002 that was held in 05-06 November 2002 in Romania/Bucharest. As a result of this election, Yalçın ÇAKICI, a security director within the Turkish National Police, was assigned to the position of the Director General of SECI Center.

                        c) The Meeting On International Struggle Against Transnational Illegal Drug Smuggling

            The Institute for Police Training (PFI-Polizei Fortbildungs Institut) is an institution that was established in Germany in 1993, and our country has participated in its activities since 1996.

            In cooperation with the said institution, “The International Meeting on International Struggle Against Transnational Illegal Drug Smuggling” was held in Antalya between November 11-13, 2002 in participation with approximately 80 experts from Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and Turkey. 

            The meeting especially gave the drug law enforcement officials the opportunity to know about each other and to share their experiences with others.