A Moroccan drug trafficker has been detained in Istanbul’s Sisli district during a joint operation conducted by Turkiye's National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and police units.

Axar.az reports, citing Turkish media, the suspect was identified as Mohamed Boulakhrif.

The report said he was located in Turkiye as part of coordinated work between the Istanbul Police Department’s Narcotics Crimes Division and MIT, which determined that he was being sought internationally over “drug trafficking” charges via a diffusion notice issued by the International Criminal Police Organization Interpol.

Authorities stated that Boulakhrif allegedly used encrypted communication applications to avoid detection during drug trafficking activities. He was detained in an operation carried out in the Sisli district of Istanbul and taken to the police headquarters for processing.