"Turkey Launches Groundbreaking Efforts to Combat Drug Use, Says Minister Soylu"
Istanbul Headmen's Fast-Breaking Meeting Addresses Decrease in Drug Use
On Monday, Istanbul held the headmen's fast-breaking meeting program at a hotel in Yesilkoy. The meeting was attended by Minister of Interior and AK Party Istanbul 2nd Region Deputy candidate Süleyman Soylu, Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya, Istanbul Provincial Police Chief Zafer Aktaş, Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Major General Yusuf Kenan Topcu, district governors, district police chiefs, district gendarmerie commanders, and neighborhood headmen.
During the program, Minister Soylu stated that there was an 8 percent decrease in the number of drug users. He also mentioned that the lower limit of punishment for chemical drugs has been increased from 10 to 15 years.
Furthermore, Soylu announced that the government is opening treatment and rehabilitation centers for substance addiction in prisons. They are also establishing prisons that will only provide treatment and rehabilitation. Spring Centers, rehabilitation centers in the forests, will be established in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Teams of police and gendarmerie will now supervise people who have used drugs and have been released on probation but have never shown up anywhere else.
Soylu added that the government has made significant investments in public opinion since July 15, purchasing a total of five government buildings in Arnavutkoy, Catalca, Bagcilar, Gaziosmanpasa, and Sancaktepe districts in Istanbul. The government is constructing six government offices, including Bayrampasa, Cekmekoy, Silivri, Sile, Sisli, and Umraniye, and has included the construction of Atasehir and Kadikoy government mansions in the 2023 investment program.
Finally, Soylu mentioned that Bayrampasa Riot Police Department is being moved to Hasdal, and in Esenyurt, the government has resolved the majority of the land registry issue with the help of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change. The government has also worked with the mukhtars on various issues, including drugs, public order incidents, schools, gymnasiums, and organized crimes that disturb the environment.
