British, Turkish police join forces to fight drug smuggling gangs

British anti-drug authorities have teamed up with their Turkish counterparts to stanch the flow of drugs to Britain. "Eighty percent of the 18 to 23 tons of smuggled drugs coming into Britain every year comes via Turkish gangs," said Steve Coates, deputy head of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA). "We're carrying out operations with efficient, professional, and talented Turkish officials to take down these gangs." Coates said SOCA presently has eight officers in Istanbul and Ankara and is conducting joint operations with the Turkish police to take down five top heroin gangs.