Three tons of pregabalin seized at Istanbul's Ambarlı Port

Authorities seized approximately 3 tons of pregabalin, a substance used in the production of green prescription drugs, at the Ambarlı Port in Istanbul, Turkey. {source_ref:1,5}

The substance, identified as powder-form material hidden among commercial goods within a container, was brought from a country in South Asia to Istanbul. {source_ref:3,14}

The container was identified as suspicious following risk analysis and targeting studies. The seizure took place inside a container on a China-flagged ship that docked at the Avcılar Ambarlı Port. {source_ref:4,16}

The operation involved coordination between the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command and the Istanbul Customs Enforcement and Intelligence Directorate. Customs Enforcement teams from the Turkish Ministry of Trade and the Turkish Gendarmerie General Command carried out the seizure. {source_ref:12,13}

Three suspects were taken into custody during the operation, along with the truck used in the incident and seized digital materials. {source_ref:6,7,8}

The Customs Enforcement Criminal Laboratory Directorate performed an analysis of the substance. {source_ref:15}

Judicial Response and Investigation

Turkish Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek stated that controlled delivery and technical surveillance were conducted to reach the buyers and connected individuals of the substance. {source_ref:9,10}

Minister Gürlek thanked the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the Istanbul Police Department, the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command, and the Istanbul Customs Enforcement and Intelligence Directorate for their roles in the operation. {source_ref:17}

The investigation is being conducted by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. {source_ref:11}

The Turkish Ministry of Trade stated that its Customs Enforcement teams are determined to continue the fight against all kinds of smuggling activities, including drugs, in coordination with relevant law enforcement units. {source_ref:20}