Drugs and Firearms Seized in Girne: Suspects in Custody.
Mother and Son arrested in Girne with drugs and firearms. Police investigation ongoing. Suspects detained for 3 more days.
Batuhan Ulugünal and his mother Müjde Taşer, who were apprehended with one kilogram of drugs, three firearms, and 30 bullets during the Nokta Operation at the Tourism Port in Girne, have been brought before the Girne District Court.
During the court proceedings, police officer Adnan Kardeşler detailed that the suspects were caught as a result of a search conducted while they were attempting to enter the country.
The search was part of the Nokta Operation, a joint effort by the Lefkoşa and Girne Police Departments and the Narcotics and Smuggling Prevention Department teams, carried out at the Girne Tourism Port on July 15, 2024, around 08:30.
Authorities seized three 9 mm pistols, three empty magazines, one additional empty magazine, 30 live 9 mm bullets, and approximately one kilogram of drugs. The drugs were wrapped in stretch nylon, newspaper, and a bag, and were hidden in two separate packages inside a battery-powered wheelchair used by Batuhan Ulugünal.
The police confirmed that both suspects were caught red-handed. A subsequent search of their residence on Mehmet Kurt Street in the Girne District, conducted by a team from the Narcotics Department, yielded no further illegal items.
In their initial statements, the suspects claimed they had received the firearms and drugs from Mersin Taşucu under the direction of an unidentified individual and that they had smuggled drugs into the country on seven previous occasions.
Police also disclosed that they had information suggesting the suspects had smuggled 25 kilograms of drugs into the country in 2023. The investigation is ongoing, with camera footage still to be reviewed and additional statements to be taken. Authorities have identified another individual who allegedly directed the suspects and is currently wanted.
Judge Murat Soytaç, after evaluating the testimony, ruled that the suspects should be detained for an additional three days to facilitate the ongoing investigation.
