Two detained in police raid on suspected drug dealers

At least two suspected drug traffickers were detained during a dawn raid by the police on a slum area in Istanbul.

Officers targeted scores of homes and offices, previously plotted by the police, in the neighborhood of Kustepe and Hürriyet in the city's Sisli district. The early morning raid also involved two police helicopters.

The riot police created a blockade on Kustepe to prevent the suspects from escaping from the raid that gave them a rude awakening. During the raid, the police found a pump-rifle, a quantity of cannabis and bonzai as well as some funds, allegedly believed to be drug sales profit, when searching a hotbed.

Two suspects, who were at home, were detained and taken to a police station for questioning.

The reporters, who covered the dawn police operation, faced harsh criticism from the residents of the neighborhoods.