Turkish authorities have arrested 121 individuals suspected of producing illicit alcohol, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on Tuesday. During the operation, police confiscated over 33,000 litres (approximately 7,300 imperial gallons) of unlicensed liquor.
The crackdown follows a rise in underground alcohol production, attributed to soaring prices and heavy taxation.
According to state-run Anadolu news agency, at least 152 people died in January and February after consuming contaminated alcohol.
Yerlikaya stated that the arrests occurred over the past two weeks across all 81 provinces, with significant operations in Istanbul and the southern tourist city of Antalya.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Yerlikaya said, “Our officers apprehended 121 suspects and seized 33,554 litres of illegal alcohol.” He warned that illicit alcohol production poses serious health risks and urged the public to report suspicious activities.
Bootleg liquor often contains methanol, a dangerous chemical linked to blindness, organ damage, and death.
Though officially secular, Turkey has seen alcohol taxes rise steeply under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a devout Muslim and outspoken critic of alcohol. Critics argue these policies are indirectly encouraging illegal production by making legal options less affordable.
Advertisement
