Turkish security forces neutralize 68 PKK terrorists over last week

Turkish security forces neutralized 68 PKK terrorists last week in nationwide operations, the Interior Ministry said Monday.

According to a written statement issued by the ministry, in 2,095 counter-terror operations between Sep. 25 and Oct. 2, 49 terrorists were killed, four were caught alive, and five surrendered.

Security officials held 133 suspects for links to the PKK, 998 for links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), 45 for links to Daesh, and 26 for links to a leftist terrorist organization.

At least 47 shelters used by PKK and 23 improvised explosives were destroyed in southeastern Sirnak, Diyarbakir, Hakkari and Mardin provinces.

During anti-narcotics operations 680 kg of hashish, 28 kg of heroin, 7 kg of cocaine, 2 kg of cannabinoid, 23 kg methamphetamine, 18,127 pieces of drug pills and 29,832 pieces of cannabis roots were seized.

Also, 833,138 packets of smuggled cigarette and 24,218 liters of smuggled fuel were seized.

The Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen, orchestrated last July's defeated coup, which left at least 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- resumed its armed campaign against Turkey in July 2015. Since then, it has been responsible for the deaths of more than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians.