Though Turkey has been undertaking the most massive narcotics operations in its history, the program is going unnoticed because of the intense political preoccupation in the country.

The “solution process” that sought to convince the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) to give up its arms and come down from the mountains has provided an unprecedented opportunity for security forces to challenge the lucrative narcotics business. Security forces are now launching operation after operation in areas they could not enter before because of terror risks.

The hunt for narcotics focuses on Diyarbakir, where the PKK is the most entrenched. Last year, of 150 tons of cannabis confiscated nationwide, 96 tons were from Diyarbakir. In the cultivated areas of Lice, 56 million marijuana plants were destroyed. In comparison, a meager haul of 13 tons of cannabis was recorded in Diyarbakir in 2012.

According to information provided to Al-Monitor, satellite tracking of hashish fields has been the most effective tool in the drug busts. Marijuana cultivation in mountainous areas is primarily detected by satellite photography. Operations are carried out jointly by the army and police, with helicopter support. Hundreds of security personnel are involved in the raids.