“We would sell 1.5 kilos of Spice (synthetic cannabis), 600 ecstasy pills and 350 grams of cocaine”
Turkey is currently suffering through a major drug epidemic. Medyascope’s Buket Topaktaş spoke to a drug dealer, known colloquially as a “bagman”. Volkan (pseudonym) had his first drug experience at age 12 when he smoked a joint he found in his aunt’s purse. Volkan tells his friends about his experience and much like him, his other 12 year old friends are also curious. “I had friends who were inclined to try it. We started using it together. I would constantly get expelled from school. I’ve been to a lot of schools” Shortly after, Volkan becomes a full on dealer, buying both for himself and his friends.
“I had just finished middle school. We were a group of 3 or 5 friends. We wanted to buy drugs but we needed money. We weren’t getting much of an allowance. So when we were going to buy, we would ask others if they wanted to buy with us. So we thought since the others were buying a lot, we could buy more and sell to them too.”
According to the National Police 2022 narcotics report, 2.8 tons of cocaine have been seized this year, a 44.9% increase from 2021. The amount of heroin seized is up 61.1%. And Meth busts are up 32.8%. Volkan says that he made six times the minimum wage in his line of work.
“I realized that there was a lot of money to be made in this business. My cousin was dealing too. I found myself hanging out with him more. The money was sweet, It pulled me deeper into it. I would make six times the minimum wage. Friends our age could afford to go out once a month, but we could party every day.”
When Buket asked him if he had no other means of making money, he responded: “I’m not an educated person. I wanted respect. I’m only a middle school graduate. I was already working before I started dealing, but the money was never enough. And it was hard work. I would see people making money and earning respect. Where I live, everything is materialistic. I wanted what they had. It is necessary to be very well organized. The port authority, the police, the narcotic police will be aware of most of these drugs imported by ship from abroad. In other words, three out of 10 people will know, and they will receive a cut. People turn to drugs because of the country’s conditions and economic problems. The younger generation is very inclined to use drugs. People do not intentionally turn to drugs. They use it to distract themselves from future anxiety, family problems, economic problems, and problems in school. It’s almost impossible to wipe out drug use in this country.”
