Turkey: 3 suspects held, large cache of weapons seized

BITLIS, Turkey

Security forces arrested three suspects and seized a large number of weapons and ammunition in an operation in eastern Turkey on Saturday.

Anti-terror and narcotics teams carried out an operation in the eastern Bitlis province, according to the provincial governorate.

The weapons seized included a long-barreled rifle, two unlicensed pistols with 13 bullets and a magazine, one grenade, 730 Kalashnikov cartridges, five G3 magazines and 269 cartridges, 24 Mauser cartridges, two unlicensed automatic shotguns and 67 cartridges, and a hunting rifle.

A total of 708 grams (over 1.5 pounds) of hemp seeds were also seized.

The arrested suspects’ affiliation was not mentioned, but the terror group PKK has been active in the region.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the EU – has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

* Writing by Fahri Aksut