5. OVERVIEW ON SUSPECTS APPREHENDED

5.1. Overview on the Basis of Substance Type

There is an increase of 38,9% in the number of the suspects apprehended in the operations concluded in 2007 when compared with the number in 2006. (Table-13) Parallel to the increased number of the operations targeting hashish, heroin and cocaine trafficking in 2007, the number of the suspects apprehended and charged with hashish, heroin and cocaine trafficking was increased. Moreover in the year 2007 planned and projected operations targeted illicit drugs trafficking organizations.

5.2. Overview on the Basis of the Role in Crime

In 2007 Turkish Narcotic Units concluded many planned and projected operations against drugs networks active in Turkey so as to apprehend the dealers providing drugs to the Turkish citizens. In accordance with the results of such operations, 59% of the apprehended suspects are charged with possession and selling of drugs. (Table-14)

The drug use among the apprehended users is as follows: 82% of them use hashish, 6,8% of them use heroin, 0,10/0 of them use opium, 1,4% of them use cocaine, 9,7°/0 of them use ecstasy and 0,1% of them use captagon.

5.3. Overview on the Basis of Gender
According to the statistical information for the last five years, the male to female ratio among the suspects apprehended for drug related crimes is almost the same in every year. (Graphic-27)

5.4. Overview on the Basis of Nationality

The information concerning Turkish citizens who involved in drug trafficking crimes abroad is collected via Interpol or Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There is a 0,8% decrease in the number of Turkish citizen involved in drug trafficking crimes abroad in 2007 when compared with the year 2006.

Foieign country based drug trafficking organizations had a tendency to come to our country and have a direct contact with local drugs trafficking organizations so as to gain more profit. That is why the figure mentioned in the above paragraph showed such a decrease.

The operations concluded by the Narcotic Units are the source of information concerning the number of the suspects apprehended in Turkey due to the drug related crimes. The last five year statistics show a steady increase in the number of the suspects apprehended in Turkey due to drug related crimes. (Graphic-28) In the year 2007 there has been an increase of 22,9% in comparison to the year 2006.

5.4.1. Distribution of Nationality of the Foreign Country Citizens Apprehended in Turkey

Between the years 2005 and 2006, 44 foreign country citizens were apprehended and legal proceedings were initiated in Turkey as a result of the operations targeted dmg trafficking organizations. This number has been increased to 48 in the year 2007.

The operations concluded in Turkey have revealed that Iranians are mostly involved in opium and opiates trafficking, Bulgarians are mostly involved in amphetamines and captagon trafficking, individuals from the countries on the Balkan Route are mostly engaged in heroin trafficking and finally the Nigerians are engaged in cocaine trafficking activities (Table-15).

Mostly Iranians were apprehended in the operations concluded in Turkey. It is striking that such individuals are involved in the trafficking in acetic anhydride, cocaine and hashish besides heroin, opium and morphine base.

Georgians and Turkomans were ranked the second and third among the foreign country citizens apprehended in Turkey in 2007 as it was the case in 2006 (Graphic-29).

5.4.2. Distribution of Turkish Citizens Apprehended Abroad

The distribution of Turkish citizens apprehended abroad is as follows: 69 heroin operations in 20 countries; 113 hashish operations in 9 countries; 28 cocaine operations in 7 countries; 8 ecstasy operations in 6 countries; 18 amphetamine operations in 4 countries; 4 synthetic drugs operations in 2 countries and 1 opium operation in 1 country. (Table-16)

The countries and the substances stated in the abovementioned operations demonstrate that the Turkish citizens are not connected to the drugs trafficking organizations active only in Turkey. Moreover some of the Turkish citizens cited above were apprehended with small amounts of drugs, which is an indication that they use drugs in the above stated countries.

The Graphic shows that 72% of the Turkish citizens were apprehended in Germany and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (Graphic -30). This is a natural consequence of dense Turkish population in those two countries.
Graphic-30 Distribution of Turkish citizens involved in drugs trafficking crimes on the basis of countries

5.5. Overview on Drug Related Mortalities

There has been a decrease in the drug related mortality since 2004 (Graphic-31). In the year 2007 16 mortalities were reported. 15 of these 16 mortalities were males and the rest was female. And 3 out these 16 mortalities were not Turkish citizens.

Following the examination of the provinces, where drug related mortalities took place in the last five years, Istanbul is always in the list. However there is no pattern related to the other provinces. (Graphic-32) The number of the drug users is higher in Istanbul than the other provinces. That is why Istanbul is always on this list.

As usual the drug related mortalities focus on the same age group between 26 and 35 in the year 2007 (Graphic-33). As it is known the individuals meet drugs in their adolescence. And tolerance to drug use peaks between the ages 26 and 35. Therefore it is stated that the drug related mortalities in this group is high parallel to the high level of drug use.