UPDATES WITH NUMBER OF DETAINEES
ISTANBUL (AA) – Turkish police detained early Tuesday at least 107 people in anti-fraud operations in 32 provinces.
Security sources speaking on condition of anonymity because of restrictions on talking to the media said police conducted simultaneous searches in 266 locations across the country.
Police seized 40 million Turkish liras’ ($14.2 million) worth of drugs at the locations.
Doctors and chemists were among the detainees, according to police sources.
They are accused of acquiring medication, including that used to treat cancer patients, using fake prescriptions and sending them to PKK militants in war zones like Syria and Iraq.
It is also claimed that the suspects have defrauded Turkish social security structures by $89 million.
The source said the raids came after six months of police surveillances.
The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU.
