Turkish security forces seized 250 kg of heroin, 30 grams of cocaine and 510 grams of hashish in two counter-narcotics operations in Turkey's largest city of Istanbul, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported on Monday.

Acting on a tip-off, the security forces raided several houses in the city, and seized the drugs, according to the report.

It added that during the operations, 21 people were detained for their alleged involvement in illicit drug trafficking.

Turkey is a key transit route for gangs smuggling drugs from Asia and the Middle East to markets in western Europe.

According to General Yasar Buyukant, Chief of the General Staff, Turkish security forces had seized a total of 112 tons of drugs, including 35 tons of heroin, 62 tons of hashish and 15 tons of morphine in operations staged in the last five years.

Source: Xinhua