Turkish police deal big blow to PKK's income source

As many as 385,843,837 cartons of smuggled cigarettes have been seized in Turkey in the last three years as part of the counter-terrorism efforts against Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorists. Cigarette smuggling is known to be one of the most significant sources of income for terrorist organizations.

So far 3,145 of the total 70,611 suspects have been arrested, according to recent figures from Turkey's General Directorate of Security.

The majority of the smuggled cigarettes come into Turkey from Syria, Iraq and Iran border checkpoints, along with Edirne and Artvin border using 'ants,' people who constantly cross borders to bring illegal cigarettes.

Smuggled cigarettes are most common in the southeastern and eastern regions of Turkey , where security forces have been fighting terror.

Authorities reminded the public that the counter-smuggling hotline (136) was reactivated to fight smuggling, adding that citizens should cooperate with authorities and fulfill their duty as citizens by reporting any suspected cases.