Turkish police seize several tons of illegal alcohol

High taxes on liquor have created a market for illicit liquor in Turkey and police are cracking down.
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Turkish authorities have been seizing unauthorized liquor following the deaths of dozens of people from bootleg alcohol in October. In this photo, from March 30, 2005, a worker in Istanbul carries raki bottles for destruction after a legally operating distillery accidentally created a poisonous batch that killed close to 25 people. - MUSTAFA OZER/AFP via Getty Images
Al Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East
Al-Monitor Staff

Turkish police have seized more than 9 tons of bootleg alcohol, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported Wednesday.

The hefty amount of illegal liquor was in four warehouses in Istanbul. Police also seized 318 liters (84 gallons) in the central province of Malatya. They arrested five people in relation to the alcohol, including one foreigner, according to Anadolu.

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