Diyarbakir, Turkey, May 8, 2025 — A large-scale drug destruction operation conducted by Turkish police in the small town of Lice, in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir, has accidentally caused health problems for more than 20,000 residents. Police publicly burned 20 tons of seized marijuana in the center of the town, releasing smoke that caused dizziness, nausea, and even hallucinations in residents, some of whom felt the effects of “passive drug use.
Burning operation causes unforeseen health problems
On April 18th, the Lice District Gendarmerie Command led the destruction operation, in which the police packaged the seized marijuana in the shape of the letters “LICE” and used 200 liters of diesel fuel to ignite and publicly burn the drugs. The smoke from the burning lasted for five days and blanketed the town. Residents were forced to close their windows and avoid going outside to avoid inhaling the harmful fumes. Many felt unwell, and some experienced symptoms similar to those of intoxication or drug influence.
The burning operation was originally intended to destroy the large amount of seized marijuana and prevent it from being reintroduced into the market. However, it turned out to be more than expected, creating a potential threat to the health of residents. The police failed to adequately consider the spread of smoke during the destruction process, resulting in marijuana smoke covering the entire residential area, directly affecting the lives and health of the local population.
Police destroyed drugs worth millions
According to the Turkish police, the marijuana was seized through 226 anti-drug operations between 2023 and 2024, with a total weight of more than 20 tons and a value of about 10 billion Turkish lira (about $260 million). The drugs mainly came from international smuggling networks, and the police conducted a series of operations to combat drug smuggling throughout the country.
Although the destruction operation was intended to protect the public from the dangers of drugs, the mishandling of the operation has resulted in serious health effects on the local population. According to the police, the purpose of burning drugs is to reduce the circulation of drugs and stop them from entering the black market. However, the location and manner of destruction were not adequately assessed and prepared, leading to unintended consequences.
Residents react strongly
Residents expressed their strong displeasure at this sudden occurrence. Many said that the smoke from the burned drugs made them feel extremely ill, dizzy, nauseous, and even hallucinate in some cases. One resident stated, “The smell of drugs has enveloped this neighborhood for days, and we can’t even open the windows of our house. The children are sick and we often go to the hospital.”
Another resident stated, “We can’t open our windows, our children are sick, and we keep going back and forth to the hospital.” These symptoms are troubling to residents, some of whom suspect they are experiencing a “passive drug use” problem. As the health problems worsened, more and more residents began to report the situation to the local government and the media, calling for measures to address the problem.
Experts criticize approach
Yahya Öğer, chairman of Turkey’s Green Star Association (Yeşil Yıldız Association), criticized the way the situation was handled. He said that it was unacceptable for the police to burn drugs in the city center and that they should be disposed of away from residential areas or in a place with professional facilities. Oğer pointed out that the smoke released from burning marijuana could cause residents to experience symptoms such as intoxication, dizziness, and nausea, similar to the effects of secondhand smoke.
Oyer further added, “Burning drugs in such a public area is undoubtedly a serious health risk. The tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) component of marijuana enters the air as it burns, and these chemicals not only affect the respiratory system, but can also lead to altered mental states.” He also suggested that a more professional and safe method of drug destruction should be used in the future to ensure that there is no negative impact on public health.
Municipal response and follow-up
Although residents have been speaking to the media and local organizations about health issues, no concrete measures have yet been taken by the authorities to mitigate the consequences of this incident. The Mayor of Licey stated that the destruction of marijuana by the police in the city center lacked professionalism and emphasized that in the future, a more scientific and humane approach should be used to deal with seized drugs to avoid the recurrence of similar incidents. The mayor also said that he would work with the local health department to conduct health checks on affected residents and provide medical help as needed. He emphasized that procedures related to drug destruction will be strictly reviewed in the future to ensure that the destruction activities will not pose a health hazard to the public.
The incident has sparked widespread public concern over how drugs are destroyed, and experts have called on the government to take into account the health and safety of residents and adopt more scientific and humane measures when dealing with drug destruction.
Public reaction and social concerns
Residents expressed their strong displeasure at this sudden occurrence. Many people expressed opposition to the burning of drugs by the Police, arguing that the action failed to take into account public safety and health. Some netizens said that the police should have chosen safer and more environmentally friendly destruction methods, such as disposing of the drugs in specialized facilities, to avoid posing health risks to the public.
At the same time, the revelation of the incident has made people start to think about how to balance public safety and people’s health in the drug crackdown process. Many experts have called on the government to strengthen its supervision of the drug destruction process in the future, and to set clear standards and procedures to avoid the occurrence of similar incidents.
Summarizing
The burning of 20 tons of marijuana by the Turkish police, although initially intended to reduce the circulation of drugs, was improperly handled, resulting in a large number of residents experiencing symptoms of discomfort, even similar to the manifestation of “passive drug use”. The incident has aroused widespread public concern over the way drugs are destroyed, and prompted experts and the community to call on the Government to adopt more scientific and humane measures to protect public health and safety. In the future, how to strike a balance between combating drug-related crimes and safeguarding the health of the population will be an urgent issue for the government and relevant departments to address.
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