ISTANBUL, May 30 – Turkish police detained 873 people in a large-scale security operation in Istanbul aimed at maintaining public order and apprehending criminal suspects, the city’s police department said on Friday.
The operation, carried out on Thursday, involved road checkpoints at 215 locations across the city, supported by a police helicopter and five patrol boats from the Marine Port Branch. Officers also conducted inspections at numerous public venues.
Police said they checked a total of 550,751 individuals. Among those detained were 539 people wanted for various offenses.
Security forces seized 27 unlicensed pistols, five rifles, five blank-firing guns and 299 rounds of ammunition. Authorities also confiscated 1,733 grams of narcotics and 1,300 drug pills.
The latest operation follows a similar sweep on May 8, during which police detained 982 suspects.
The Istanbul Police Department said such operations would continue.
XINHUA
