Turkish authorities have detained 179 people across the country in a coordinated crackdown on illegal alcohol production and distribution, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on Thursday via social media platform X.
According to Yerlikaya, simultaneous raids were carried out on Wednesday across all 81 provinces, targeting criminal networks involved in manufacturing and selling counterfeit alcoholic beverages. The large-scale operation aimed to dismantle supply chains that have been endangering public health through the sale of toxic, unregulated alcohol.
During the raids, security forces confiscated 30,836 bottles of fake alcoholic drinks, 16,888 litres of ethanol, and 4,564 litres of counterfeit alcohol. Authorities also discovered and shut down 13 illegal production facilities, believed to be central to the illicit supply network.
Yerlikaya confirmed that all 179 suspects are currently undergoing legal proceedings. He reaffirmed the government’s ongoing commitment to protecting citizens from the dangers of counterfeit alcohol and strengthening enforcement against organised crime.
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The interior minister urged members of the public to purchase alcoholic beverages only from authorised vendors, warning that fake products often contain toxic substances that can cause severe poisoning or death. He noted that such incidents tend to rise during festive and holiday seasons, when counterfeit alcohol sales typically increase.
Turkish authorities have intensified efforts in recent ytears to tackle the growing problem of illegal alcohol production, which has led to numerous fatalities and hospitalisations. The government continues to emphasise strict monitoring, public awareness campaigns, and collaboration between law enforcement and health agencies to curb the threat of illicit alcohol consumption.
