Operation Olive Branch severs PKK’s drug, people smuggling route

A Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) terrorist captured in a village on the skirts of Mt. Bursaya said that the organization earned an average of $550,000 per day by utilizing a route starting from the Jinderes region west of Afrin to the border of Mt. Bursaya for drug and human smuggling and terrorist reinforcements. This figure was axed by Operation Olive Branch, and a blow was struck against the PKK, which earned about of $200 million a year in this way.

According to the statement of a PKK terrorist who was detained in the Qastal Jundo village, the so-called field commander of the terror group pocketed $550,000 daily as a result of the smuggling of drugs, people and terrorists along Syria’s 120-kilometer long border.

The terrorist, code-named Bozo, who was captured by the opposition in Afrin, said: "The organization gave us instructions saying ‘Fight not only for Afrin, but also for Amanos.’” Amanos, also known as the Nur Mountains, is located in Turkey’s southern province of Hatay.

Bozo explained that on some days, approximately 250 to 300 illegal migrants would be smuggled to Turkey’s İslahiye, Kilis, Kırıkhan and Hassa border areas from Afrin’s countryside.

“Over the past two years, the cost of illegal entry has increased as a result of the security measures implemented by Turkey. Drug and people smuggling occurs across various points of the border,” he said, adding that Afrin’s north and west are Syria’s “best place” for drug and people smuggling because of its mountainous structure.

The terrorist divulged the PKK tactic of launching small-scale attacks before drug and arms shipments in order to cause a distraction.

“Mahmut Berhudan, the military officer of Afrin, was particularly interested in drugs. Syrians from across the country come to Afrin to pass into Turkey. As a result of this, there are drug carriers in all regions. The daily income from both drug and human smuggling amounts to at least $550,000,” said Bozo the terrorist.

Operation Olive Branch was initiated on Jan. 20 in Afrin to establish security and stability, eliminate PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG and Daesh terrorists, and save locals from their oppression and cruelty.

According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkey’s borders and the region as well as to protect Syrians from terrorist oppression and cruelty.

The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey's rights based on international law, UN Security Council resolutions, its self-defense rights under the UN charter, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity.

Afrin has been a major hideout for the PYD/PKK since July 2012, when the Assad regime in Syria left the city to the terror group without putting up a fight.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. The PKK has been conducting armed violence in the southeastern part of Turkey since 1984. More than 40,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the three-decade long conflict.