Officers from the Turkish Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Department have arrested 15 suspects, including the leader of an armed organized crime group, following a large-scale police operation in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır.

Officers from the Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Department carried out coordinated raids targeting a criminal network believed to have been involved in 16 separate criminal offenses, The Caspian Post reports via TRT Haber.

A total of 40 suspects were detained during the operation, including the ringleader identified by the initials A.E. Investigators accuse the suspects of establishing, leading, and participating in an organized criminal group.

During searches, police seized 21.4 kilograms of marijuana, 350.5 grams of skunk cannabis, 11 synthetic pharmaceutical substances, three pistols, and five ammunition magazines.

Following legal proceedings, a court ordered the arrest of 15 suspects, while 24 others were released under judicial supervision. One individual was released, with the case referred to the court for inclusion in the broader criminal proceedings.

The investigation into the criminal organization remains ongoing.